French AFP journalist killed in rocket attack near Bakhmut

FRANCE 24

9 May 2023 at 1:30 am·1-min read

French AFP journalist killed in rocket attack near Bakhmut

A French journalist based in Ukraine for AFP was killed on Tuesday near the embattled city of Bakhmut, the news agency reported. Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech at the annual May 9 Victory Day parade accusing the West of unleashing a "real war" on Russia. Officials in Kyiv said Russian forces fired a dozen cruise missiles at the Ukrainian capital overnight. Follow our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

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12:00am: Britain set to blacklist Russia's Wagner group

Britain is set to formally proscribe Russia's mercenary force Wagner group as a terrorist organization to increase pressure on Russia, the Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Wagner mercenaries have spearheaded Russia's months-long assault on Bakhmut in the industrial Donbas region.

After two months of building a legal case, proscription or a formal blacklisting of the group was "imminent" and likely to be enacted within weeks, the newspaper reported citing a government source.

This would make it a criminal offence to belong to Wagner, attend its meetings, encourage support for it or carry its logo in public, The Times said.

It would also impose financial sanctions on the group and there would be implications for Wagner's ability to raise money if any funds went through British financial institutions, the newspaper added.

8:59pm: French journalist killed in rocket attack near Bakhmut

The resolution, which is non-binding, passed with unanimous support across the political spectrum.