Tortured body found is Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna
Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, missing since August 2023, has been confirmed dead following her detention in Russian captivity. Her body was returned to Ukraine in February 2025 and identified through DNA analysis conducted by Ukrainian authorities.
During the examination of bodies handed over by Russia, officials found one labeled with the name “Roshchyna,” according to Yurii Bielousov, Head of the War Department at the Prosecutor General’s Office. The remains were severely decomposed and partially mummified. DNA testing using samples from her parents confirmed the identification with over 99% certainty.
“Due to the condition of the body and the effects of mummification, the cause of death could not be determined,” Bielousov reported. However, signs of physical abuse were documented, including abrasions, extensive bruising, a broken rib, and possible indications of electric shock. Additional forensic analysis is ongoing with French experts.
Roshchyna disappeared after informing her family that she had crossed into Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, where she was likely reporting on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant crisis and the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Her last contact was on August 3, 2023. Despite early efforts by her family, colleagues, and human rights organizations, her fate remained unclear for months.
In April 2024, her father received a letter from Russian authorities confirming she was in detention. Roshchyna had been held in facilities in Berdiansk and Taganrog, both previously accused of torturing prisoners. Russian officials later claimed that she died on September 19, 2024, during a transfer to Moscow. No detailed explanation was provided.
International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, the European Union, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have called for a full investigation. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office is treating her death as a potential war crime. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the loss as “a real blow” to Ukraine’s journalism community.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, at least 117 journalists have been killed. Many of these cases show signs of targeted attacks and torture, reflecting the dangerous conditions for reporters operating in occupied territories.
The official investigation into the cause and circumstances of Roshchyna’s death remains ongoing.