Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov responded to reports about the death of a journalist in the Artemovsk region, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut, as reported by the French press agency AFP. The journalist, Arman Solden, was said to have died after gunfire in the town of Chasov Yar.
Peskov said he had no information to share and advised reporters seeking details to contact the Russian Ministry of Defense directly.
He urged readers not to take statements from Ukrainian officials at face value, highlighting a recent Ukrainian decision to ban journalists from areas near the contact zone. He attributed those steps to Ukrainian authorities and emphasized the need to verify facts through official channels.
Peskov noted that the exact circumstances surrounding Arman Solden’s death warranted careful examination and careful reporting. He expressed condolences for the loss, stating that they regretted the incident.
The previous day, there were reports that a French news agency photographer, Armand Solden, had died in the Artemovsk region. The photographer, working as a video shooting coordinator in Ukraine since last September, had been embedded in the war zone and documented events as part of his role.
Accounts of the incident have raised questions about safety conditions for journalists operating in conflict zones and how information is verified amid ongoing hostilities. News organizations continue to await official updates and to review the facts as they become available, with particular attention to the sequence of events, location details, and potential corroborating sources. Attribution for initial reports remains with AFP and other outlets monitoring the area, with further statements expected from official representatives and press offices in the days ahead [AFP].