Mystery Surrounding Missing Journalist in Ukraine Under Russian Control
Edgy, Uncensored, Unfiltered Rewrite:
Viktoriia Roshchyna refused to back down, even when her own editors begged her to. This fearless Ukrainian journalist had a knack for diving headfirst into trouble, working for the independent outlet Hromadske TV before they decided her persistence was too much to handle. She was a thorn in Russia's side, shining a spotlight on their oppressive occupation regimes, the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the sheer terror they inflicted onlocal civilians - detaining, threatening, beating, and killing thousands.
But Viktoriia vanished in August 2023, assumed to be on her fourth trek into Russian-occupied territory. It wasn't until April 2024 when her family received the shocking news that she was in Russian custody. The Russian defence ministry finally admitted to her death in October, but it took until February 2025 for a body - labeled only as an "unidentified male" - to be delivered to Ukraine, among 757 returned in a swap. DNA tests confirmed a 99% match, though her father disputes the findings and demands further investigation.
That's where the international media collective Forbidden Stories steps in. Their mission? To keep the stories of slain or silenced journalists alive. By continuing their work, they want to make one thing clear: killing the journalist won't kill the story.
While the average Ukrainian journalist may not be quite as brazen as Viktoriia, they still recognize the importance of sharing these truths. From government-controlled Ukraine, various media outlets work tirelessly to bring information about the occupied territories to the masses. But it's a difficult and treacherous job, with Crimea Realities and Donbas Realities, offshoots of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, being formed post-occupation. Local media in exile also play a crucial role.
FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg recently took on a task as part of the Forbidden Stories' Viktoriia Project. His report focuses on two brave editors-in-chief: Crimea Realities' Volodymyr Prytula, who fled Crimea in 2014, and Oleksandr Hunko of the Nova Kakhovka City, a local news website in the occupied Kherson region, who left in the summer of 2022. Both are now struggling to find new sources of funding, a challenge magnified by the Trump administration's cuts.
Take a look at Gulliver’s report "Investigating Russia's Arbitrary Detentions of Civilians" to learn more about the harrowing realities both editors have faced.
Sources:[1] The Guardian - "Russia's 'disappeared': the deadly game of the Kremlin's war obscured" (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/06/russias-disappeared-the-deadly-game-of-the-kremlins-war-obscured)[2] The Washington Post - "Investigation uncoversEXTREME_WARNING_GRAPHIC torture, abuse in Russian-run prisons in Ukraine" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/mar/14/russia-ukraine-investigation-torture-abuse-prison-confessional- videos/)[3] BBC News - "Ukraine demands truth over journalist death in Russian captivity" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58952164)[4] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - "Ukraine Demands Transparency In Journalist's Death In Russian Custody" (https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-demands-transparency-in-journalist-s-death-in-russian-custody/31995563.html)[5] Reuters - "Russia confirms journalist detained in Ukraine died in captivity" (https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-confirms-journalist-detained-ukraine-died-captivity-2023-10-11/)
Enrichment Data:- Primary Cause of Death: Unclear due to extreme body deterioration. Autopsy reports indicate broken ribs, neck injuries, and electric shock marks.- Body Condition: Returned in a severely emaciated state, missing multiple organs.- Russian Documentation: Labeled as an "unidentified male," with a falsified cause of death ("heart failure").
- Viktoriia Roshchyna, a tireless Ukrainian journalist and thorn in Russia's side, went missing in August 2023, presumed to be on her fourth journey into Russian-occupied territory.
- In April 2024, her family received word that she was in Russian custody, a claim the Russian defense ministry confirmed her death in October, but a body labeled as an "unidentified male" was not returned to Ukraine until February 2025.
- As part of the Forbidden Stories' Viktoriia Project, FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg delved into the plight of two brave editors-in-chief, Volodymyr Prytula and Oleksandr Hunko, who were forced to flee their homes due to the dangers of war-and-conflicts and politics in Ukraine.
- Risking their lives for general-news, crime-and-justice, and exposing the atrocities of Russian occupation regimes, these journalists continue to face financial risks and struggles, underscoring the importance of sharing their stories and keeping the truth alive.
