Antoni Lallican

Antoni Lallican was an award-winning French photojournalist based in Paris whose work focused on armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and the lives of civilians caught in war. He began documenting the war in Ukraine in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and returned repeatedly to the country to report from both frontline and rear areas. His photography traced the human cost of war, portraying displaced families, elderly civilians who refused to leave their homes under bombardment, and soldiers living and fighting at the front.

Lallican’s work was widely published by leading media outlets, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, and other international publications, and he collaborated with the Hans Lucas photo agency. In recognition of his commitment to socially engaged journalism, he was awarded the Victor Hugo Prize for photography in 2024. Colleagues described him as a dedicated and courageous reporter who knew the terrain of eastern Ukraine well and took great care to document events accurately and ethically.

On 3 October 2025, while embedded with Ukraine’s 4th Mechanised Brigade near the village of Komyshuvakha in the Donetsk region, Lallican was killed instantly in a drone strike. He and his Ukrainian colleague were wearing protective equipment clearly marked “PRESS” at the time of the attack. His death was widely condemned by journalist organizations, media outlets, and political leaders, and it underscored the extreme dangers faced by journalists reporting from modern conflict zones.