Govt confirms Italian photojournalist killed in Ukraine

30-year-old loses life in Slavyansk

(ANSA) - Rome, May 25 - The foreign ministry in Rome on Sunday confirmed that an Italian photoreporter, Andrea 'Andy' Rocchelli, had been killed in eastern Ukraine along with his Russian interpreter Andrey Mironov.

The 30-year-old, who had recently become a father, was killed on Saturday in Slavyansk, the theatre of some of the most intense fighting in recent weeks between Ukraine government forces and pro-Russia separatists. Representatives of the separatists said the pair were probably killed by mortar fire from government forces. Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini expressed condolences to the families of the dead men and called on the Ukraine government to establish what happened.