France confirms death of volunteer fighter in Ukraine

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) - A French man volunteering in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine was killed in the fighting, the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday, according to local media on Friday.

"We learned the sad news that a Frenchman had been mortally wounded in fighting in Ukraine. We extend our condolences to his family," the ministry said.

The details of his identity have not been revealed yet. This is the first combatant death and the second death of a French national this week after the killing of French news channel BFMTV's journalist Frederic Leclerc Imhoff on May 30.

The young man had joined the Ukrainian International Defense Legion and participated in the fighting against the Russian army. He is believed to have died due to artillery fire in the Kharkiv region, the Europe1 report said.

Nearly 150 French nationals are reportedly fighting alongside the Ukrainians in the ongoing war which started on Feb. 24.

Meanwhile, in another statement, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna denounced Russia’s “incessant and indiscriminate” bombardment for 100 days on the Ukrainian military forces and civilian populations.

“There can be no impunity for the atrocity of abuses committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, Bucha, and other cities," she said.

Colonna also recalled France’s “unwavering support” to Ukraine and added that Paris has announced $2 billion in humanitarian, economic, financial, diplomatic, and military aid.