Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna dies in Russian captivity

Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, 27, tragically died in Russian captivity during her transfer from Taganrog to Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed her death following a request from her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn, dated Aug. 28.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliament’s commissioner for human rights, corroborated the information but noted that the circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. 

“Once again, a person dies in Russian captivity, whose detention in the RF [Russian Federation] was confirmed by the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross]. It is unknown why a young woman died while in Russian custody,” he said.

Roshchyna was reportedly on a prisoner exchange list and was expected to return to Ukraine soon. 

“She was supposed to be home shortly; everything necessary had been arranged for this,” said Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Roshchyna had covered Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, reporting from hot spots, traveling to the front lines, and even visiting occupied territories. In March 2022, she was captured by the Russians and held for ten days in then-occupied Berdiansk before being released.

In a remarkable display of dedication to her craft, Roshchyna attempted to expose the realities of life in occupied territories a second time. She left Ukraine for Poland in July 2023, intending to reach the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine via Russia three days later. Tragically, she disappeared on August 3, 2023, in Russian-controlled territory.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine has reclassified the case surrounding the journalist’s disappearance, now treating it as a war crime connected to premeditated murder.

“Vika was incredibly brave and took on the most challenging topics. It was crucial for her to highlight the stories of Ukrainians living under occupation. Her dedication to journalism was unwavering,” remarked Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, where Roshchyna contributed as a freelancer.

Hromadske, the publication where Roshchyna worked for more than five years, noted: “She was one of those journalists who didn’t wait for editorial assignments. Whenever something happened, Vika was already there – at rallies, clashes, and sites of tragedy. She embraced the toughest challenges, had a passion for law enforcement stories, and attended high-profile court hearings.”

At just 27 years old, Roshchyna leaves behind a significant legacy. 

“Her work on the Kerch captives – Ukrainian sailors in Russian captivity, the Markiv case, and investigations into Berkut – showed her dedication to tackling the toughest issues. This time, however, evil proved to be stronger,” said Natalia Humeniuk, founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab.

Her contributions to journalism can be explored in detail through the links: Hromadske and Ukrainska Pravda.