Dozens of mourners gathered at a cathedral in central Kyiv to pay their respects to Victoria Roshchyna, a 27-year-old independent journalist who died in Russian captivity last year. Roshchyna’s body, which was returned to Ukraine in February, showed “numerous signs of torture,” including abrasions and a broken rib. The circumstances of her arrest and death remain unclear, with Russia providing no explanation for her demise.
Roshchyna worked freelance for several Ukrainian news outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Free Europe. She was known for her bravery and dedication to reporting from conflict zones, particularly in eastern Ukraine. In 2022, she was awarded the Courage in Journalism award by the International Women’s Media Foundation for her reporting from the front lines.
According to a joint investigation by Reporters Without Borders and Ukrainian investigative news outlet Slidstva, Roshchyna was arrested in Energodar in southern Ukraine and later held in the Russian-held city of Melitopol. She was transferred to a jail in the Russian port city of Taganrog, where she was subjected to “systemic torture, beatings, humiliation, threats, severe restrictions on access to medical care, drinking water, and food.” Ukraine has described her death as “premeditated murder” and accused Russia of a war crime.
The United Nations has demanded that Russia provide answers over Roshchyna’s death. While Russia does not comment on the treatment of individual prisoners, it claims to be committed to investigating torture and abuse in its penal system. The case highlights the plight of thousands of Ukrainians opposed to Moscow’s rule who have been detained in occupied territories since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
At Roshchyna’s funeral, colleagues and friends paid tribute to her “historic work” in the occupied territories. Angelina Karyakina, editor-in-chief at Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske, described Roshchyna as a tireless and ambitious journalist who preferred to work alone. Roshchyna’s death serves as a reminder of the risks faced by journalists in conflict zones and the importance of protecting press freedom.
