France urges “protect journalists” at war in Ukraine

France recalled on Wednesday “the obligation” for belligerents in Ukraine to “protect” journalists, following the death of five reporters, including one French-Irishman, since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.

“I remember the obligation for the armed forces to protect journalists, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and I strongly condemn any action against them,” said the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Two workers of the US network Fox News, French-Irishman Pierre Zakrzewski and Ukraine's Oleksandra Kuvshynova, died on Monday near Kiev, where their vehicle was shot.

On Sunday, American journalist Brent Renaud died and Colombian-American photographer Juan Arredondo was injured in Irpin, the scene of some of the harshest fighting.

According to Ludmila Denisova, in charge of human rights in the Ukrainian Parliament, at least two other Ukrainian journalists have also been killed.

Evgeny Sakun was killed in a Russian attack on a Kiev television tower and Viktor Dudar was killed in the middle of fighting near the southern port city of Mikolaiv, he added.

On Tuesday, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, called for “respect for international humanitarian standards to ensure the protection of journalists and communication professionals”.

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