Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna died under mysterious circumstances while in Russian captivity, with evidence of torture and organs removal. According to a joint media report by The Washington Post, The Guardian, Ukrainska Pravda, and iStories, forensic examination revealed numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment. These included broken ribs, neck injuries, and possible electric shock marks.
Roshchyna’s father is skeptical about the identity of her body due to a high DNA match, requesting further forensic analyses. The 27-year-old journalist was investigating alleged torture prisons in southeast Ukraine when she went missing in 2023. Ukrainian journalists rarely visit Russian-occupied areas due to the high risks.
The international community has called for increased attention and response to the report. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians are held in Russian prisons or occupied areas, with many facing torture and deprivation of correspondence. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Moscow for Roshchyna’s death, stating that responsibility lies with the Russian authorities who detained her for reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Roshchyna was a freelancer working for various independent news outlets and had collaborated with Radio Free Europe. She received the Courage in Journalism award in 2022 for her reporting in east Ukraine. Her death has sparked condemnation from international organizations, highlighting the risks faced by journalists covering the conflict zone.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/viktoriia-roshchyna-ukraine-journalist-died-russia-captivity-report