A French journalist was killed when Russian shelling hit a vehicle that was to be used for the evacuation of civilians from the war zone near the city of Sievierodonetsk, a Ukrainian foreign ministry official said in a Twitter post on Monday.
Evacuations from Sievierodonetsk, the last major stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Luhansk, were suspended following the Russian shelling of an armored transport vehicle, regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said.
Gaidai wrote on Telegram that the shrapnel had pierced the vehicle's armor, killing the accredited French journalist traveling inside.
He also provided a photograph of a press accreditation identifying the journalist.
France's foreign minister reacts, no comment from Russia
The French foreign ministry said it was checking the report of the journalist's death.
France's new foreign minister Catherine Colonna, who is in Ukraine for her first visit, called for an investigation into the journalist's death on Monday.
"France demands that a probe is carried out as soon as possible and in transparency on the circumstances of this drama"
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna
There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities, who have repeatedly denied targeting civilians in Ukraine.