Unveiling the Tragic Fate of Investigative Journalist Victoria Roshchyna
Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roshchyna: Remains Returned with Evidence of Torture Following Russian Capture
In the heart-wrenching saga of a brave journalist, Victoria Roshchyna's body was returned to her homeland, Ukraine, after being brutally murdered by Russian forces. The harsh realities of her gruesome demise are painted by evidence pointing towards torture, organ removal, and other heinous acts, according to an investigation.
Victoria Roshchyna, a fearless journalist with a penchant for truth, disappeared in the tumultuous territories of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, in August 2023 [1][4]. Her remains were finally delivered to her family in February 2025, following a prisoner exchange. A shocking twist, her body was mislabeled as an "unidentified male" by Russian authorities [2][5]. DNA testing later confirmed her identity with over 99% probability, though her father contest this and has requested further analysis [3][5].
The absentee investigative journalist's body bore telltale signs of torture, including broken ribs, neck injuries, abrasions, and hemorrhages [2][3]. Chilling evidence also points to the removal of her eyes, brain, and larynx. This raises suspect that the removal was intended to hide the traces of electric shocks and other brutal treatments to which she was subjected [2][3][5].
Weighing significantly less than the other prisoners exchanged, Roshchyna's emaciated body was a testament to her ordeal [2]. Her hair, which she once wore long, was found shaved [2][3]. A Russian medical abbreviation ("SPAS") etched on the Russian listing suggests severe heart trauma [2][3].
The unofficial cause of death remains a mystery due to the mummified state of the body. Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General intends to carry out more tests to shed light on the matter [5]. The victim's father has also requested additional foreign exams.
Who was Victoria Roshchyna?
Roshchyna contributed to various Ukrainian media outlets and Radio Free Europe. Russia admitted her detention only in May 2024, nine months following her disappearance. During her imprisonment, she was housed in Berdyansk - known for being one of Russia's harshest facilities for Ukrainians [5]. Subsequently, she spent time in a pre-trial detention center in Taganrog, on the Russian side of the border, and died during transportation to Moscow.
Before her tragic demise, Roshchyna was held by the Russians for ten days in March 2022 and was awarded the International Women's Media Foundation's 2022 Courage in Journalism Award. Roshchyna, fondly known as Vika, hailed from Kryvyi Rih, where her parents still reside. Her father once served as a veteran in the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
Colleagues described Roshchyna as uncompromising, a dedicated professional who lived for her work. She went to great lengths to protect her sources, adopting measures like using multiple phones and self-erasing messages to foil her adversaries [5].
Roshchyna's last assignment was to unearth the whereabouts of Russian black sites, where civilians were reportedly subjected to torture and interrogation [5]. She was diligently compiling a list of FSB agents involved in these horrific crimes.
According to a prosecutor's belief, after her capture, Roshchyna was taken to a black site in Melitopol, codenamed "the garages" [3]. Testimony from a former cellmate, who was released in September 2024, indicated that Roshchyna declared torture at this facility. The cellmate added, "during interrogations, they utilized electric shocks, she was stabbed multiple times, and her arms and legs bore fresh knife wounds" [3].
Roshchyna's condition reeled from the psychological and physical brutality as she became emaciated during her incarceration. Her cellmate reported she dropped to an alarming 30 kg.
Roshchyna's last interview, in November 2022, highlighted her unwavering commitment to upholding truth and reporting harrowing accounts of Russian occupation. She dedicated the award for courage she received from the International Women's Media Foundation to her fallen colleagues who paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of truth.
- Russia
- Ukraine
Politics Crime Journalism Human Rights Conflict Reporting Investigative Journalism War Crimes Accountability Media Freedom
- Victoria Roshchyna, a braver-than-ever investigative journalist from Ukraine, lost her life in 2025, suspected to have been brutally murdered by Russian forces amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts.
- Roshchyna, a recipient of the International Women's Media Foundation's 2022 Courage in Journalism Award, disappeared in August 2023 in the tumultuous territories of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
- General news, politics, and crime-and-justice outlets worldwide reported Roshchyna's horrific demise, with evidence suggesting her body bore telltale signs of torture, organ removal, and other heinous acts.
- In 2024, Russia admitted to Roshchyna's detention but remained silent on the cause of her death and the circumstances surrounding her harrowing ten-day imprisonment in known Russian harsh facilities.
- International organizations like the International Criminal Court and human rights groups have called for accountability in Roshchyna's murder, reiterating the importance of press freedom and conflict reporting in maintaining a healthy democracy.
- As many journalists, particularly those in war-stricken countries, face daunting challenges to uphold truth and justice, Roshchyna's tragic fate is a grim reminder of the risks that investigative journalism entails, reinforcing the need for media freedom and protection for journalists worldwide.
