Investigating the Captivity and Brutal Death of Journalist Victoria Roshchina in Russian Prisons
Global news outlets are scrutinizing the detention of journalist Rochina
Over a six-month probe, an international consortium of 13 media outlets, led by Forbidden Stories, dug deep into the horrifying circumstances surrounding the death of journalist Victoria Roshchina and the plight of thousands of Ukrainian civilians held in Russian-controlled territories.
The project, dubbed 'Project Victoria,' was initiated after the announcement of Roshchina's death on October 10, 2024. The investigation took on a personal note, aiming not only to uncover the truth behind her captivity but also to complete her groundbreaking work on the stories of 'otherworldly prisoners' - a chilling nickname for the 16,000 civilians trapped in Russian captivity.
During the investigation, the coalition interviewed over 50 survivors and insiders who had firsthand knowledge of Russian imprisonment methods. Some of the other media outlets involved were The Guardian, The Washington Post, Le Monde, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, ZDF, Paper Trail Media, IStories, France 24, Ukrainian Pravda, and DerStandard.
The team's findings uncovered systematic torture, brutal conditions, and a troubling lack of due process within Russian detention facilities.
Death by Torment
Sadly, Victoria Roshchina's lifeless body, labeled as an unidentified male in Russian documents, was handed over to the Ukrainian side on February 14, 2025. Pathologists identified the remains as belonging to the journalist, revealing she had suffered extensive torture. Her body bore signs of beating, electric shock, broken ribs, and neck injuries, indicating a violent end.
Upon discovering that the body had undergone an autopsy in Russia, the investigative group also found that some internal organs, such as the brain, eyeballs, and part of the trachea, were missing. An international forensic pathologist suspects that the removal of these organs might have been an attempt to conceal the true cause of death, potentially by strangulation or asphyxiation.
Unjust Detentions and Brutality
The investigation further revealed that facilities like Taganrog’s detention center No. 2 and Berdiansk’s penal colony No. 77 have a history of subjecting detainees to inhumane conditions, including electric shocks, incommunicado detention, and other forms of torture. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including journalists, are held without charges or legal access, with many disappearing in Russian custody for months on end.
The findings underscore the Russian government's systematic use of torture against detained Ukrainians and its attempts to obscure evidence of these heinous crimes.
Remembering Victoria Roshchina
As a freelance author for "Ukrainian Truth," Victoria Roshchina traveled from Ukraine to Poland on July 25, 2023, intending to reach the occupied east of Ukraine through Russia in three days. Tragically, she went missing on August 3, 2023, on Russian-occupied territory, where she was conducting a report. Russia finally acknowledged her detention only in May 2024, over eight months after her disappearance, and claims she died on September 19, 2024, but delayed returning her body for five months.
The investigation into Victoria Roshchina's death continues, and her work lives on as a haunting reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses within Russian-controlled territories.
- The investigation, named 'Project Victoria', focused not only on Victoria Roshchina's captivity but also aimed to complete her work on the stories of 'otherworldly prisoners,' a chilling nickname for the 16,000 civilians trapped in Russian captivity.
- In the interviews conducted during the investigation, over 50 survivors and insiders shared their firsthand experiences of Russian imprisonment methods.
- The investigation, published in 2025, uncovered systematic torture, brutal conditions, and a troubling lack of due process within Russian detention facilities.
- Victoria Roshchina's body, labeled as an unidentified male in Russian documents, showed signs of beating, electric shock, broken ribs, and neck injuries, indicating a violent end.
- The international forensic pathologist suspects that the removal of some internal organs, such as the brain, eyeballs, and part of the trachea, might have been an attempt to conceal the true cause of death, potentially by strangulation or asphyxiation.
