Death of a Ukrainian journalist in Russian captivity (video)

Victoria Roshchyna was a freelance reporter for the Ukrainian media outlets Ukrayinska Pravda and Hromadske Radio, and for the US-funded publication Radio Liberty. She turned 28 this month.

The main topic of Roshchina’s articles were personal stories of people living under occupation. The death of a journalist in Russian custody was officially announced on Thursday, October 10, writes Reuters.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets reportedthat official documentary confirmation has been received from the Russian side about the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina:

“Once again, a person dies in Russian captivity, whose presence in the dungeons of the Russian Federation was confirmed by the ICRC! Why the young woman died while in Russian captivity is unknown.”

He noted that he had already contacted the UN and the ICRC so that they would record the death of a civilian illegally detained by Russia:

“Illegal detentions and kidnappings of journalists are the Russian Federation’s weapon against freedom of speech! Russia has once again violated the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. The international community must put pressure on Russia so that all those responsible for crimes are brought to justice!”

Lubinets reported that the journalist disappeared in temporarily occupied territory in August 2023, but the Russian Federation only admitted in May 2024 that she was being held captive on Russian territory.

Roshchina worked for the publication Hromadske from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On March 7, 2022, her car was shot at. A week later, the Russian military detained her in the village of Vasilyevka, but the journalist managed to escape. Already on March 11, 2022 Roshchina was captured. According to her, she was captured when she was heading to Mariupol and was kept in Berdyansk for a week.

In October 2023, it became known that Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who received an award for her reporting on the war in Ukraine, disappeared in the temporarily occupied territories. Relatives and friends reported that they had lost contact with her since August 3, 2023.

Only in May 2024 did Russia admit that they were holding Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina captivewho disappeared last August.

Criminal proceedings opened following the disappearance of freelance author of Ukrayinska Pravda Victoria Roshchina have been qualified as a war crime coupled with premeditated murder. IN message The Attorney General's Office says:

“On October 10, the media published information about the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who was illegally detained by the Russian Federation. In this regard, the criminal proceedings initiated on the fact of her disappearance under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine were qualified by Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code Ukraine – a violation of the laws and customs of war, coupled with premeditated murder.”

The department noted that the judicial investigation will be carried out by the Main Investigation Department of the SBU under the leadership of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
The European Union reacted to the death of Ukrainian journalist Roshchina and expressed outrage at her death in Russian captivity. “European truth” quotes Statement from the press service of the European External Action Service:

“EU horrified by the news of the death of Ukrainian freelance journalist Victoria Roshchina, who was arbitrarily and illegally detained by Russia. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues.”

The statement recalled what Victoria Roshchina did and was known for, and the currently known circumstances of her death – when transported from a prison in Taganrog to Moscow:

“Her fate is a tragic reminder of the thousands of people detained in the occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia, as well as the repression that the Russian authorities apply, including in Russia.”

In a statement, the foreign diplomatic service noted that Russia bore full responsibility for the fate of the journalist after she was detained in the occupied territories:

“She is the thirteenth journalist to have died since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU demands a thorough and independent investigation that will clarify the full circumstances of Victoria Roshchina's death as quickly as possible. The EU is deeply concerned by Russia's ongoing pattern of harassment, intimidation and use of force against journalists and other media workers working in war zones… There must be no impunity for human rights violations and abuses against journalists. The EU is committed to bringing to justice all perpetrators and accomplices of war crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.” .

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