Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, 27, Dies in Russian Detention

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Viktoriia Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist known for her coverage of the Russian occupation, has died while imprisoned in Russia. Roshchyna disappeared in August 2023 in an area of Ukraine now under Russian control. It took nine months for Russian authorities to confirm her detention, providing no explanation for her status.

This week, Roshchyna’s father received a brief letter from the Russian Defense Ministry informing him of her death on September 19. The letter stated that her body would be returned as part of a prisoner swap organized between Russia and Ukraine. No details surrounding her death were provided.

A vigil for Roshchyna took place in Kyiv’s Maidan, where friends and colleagues gathered to honor her memory. “She had huge courage,” one mourner said, while another added, “We will miss her enormously.” Her reporting offered vital insights into life under siege, often from areas where Ukrainian voices were silenced.

Roshchyna’s determination to report from occupied territories was evident even after she faced detention for ten days during a previous assignment. Despite her parents’ pleas for her safety, she remained committed to her work, ultimately becoming a freelance journalist to continue her reporting.

Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief at Ukrayinska Pravda, highlighted Roshchyna’s ambition to shed light on the hardships faced by civilians in occupied cities. “She was absolutely amazing,” Musaieva said, noting Roshchyna’s refusal to use a pseudonym while writing critically about the occupation and those collaborating with Russian forces.

Roshchyna’s journey to the occupied regions began last July, when she traversed Poland and Russia. After being interrogated at the border, she was held in Detention Centre No. 2 in Taganrog, a facility infamous for its brutal treatment of Ukrainians, often referred to as the “Russian Guantanamo.”

Reports suggest that Roshchyna was seen by another Ukrainian detainee shortly before her expected release in September, raising hopes for her return. However, she was subsequently moved to Lefortovo prison in Moscow, a facility operated by the FSB and known for housing those accused of serious crimes.

Viktoriia’s father last spoke to her on August 30, during which she indicated that she had initiated a hunger strike. Although she agreed to resume eating after his urging, the circumstances surrounding her subsequent disappearance remain murky.

Ukraine’s intelligence service has confirmed her death, and the General Prosecutor’s office has shifted its investigation from illegal detention to murder. Despite being held for nine months, Roshchyna was never formally charged with a crime.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn described Roshchyna’s situation as “the killing of hostages,” emphasizing the lack of accountability for her death. Russian authorities have not issued a comment on the matter.

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, numerous civilians have been taken from areas under Moscow’s control, leaving families desperate for information about their loved ones. The Media Initiative for Human Rights reports that 1,886 civilians are currently unaccounted for, with many families struggling to obtain any news.

Friends and colleagues of Roshchyna have vowed to investigate the circumstances of her death. “Her life was her work,” said Angelina Karyakina, a former editor at Hromadske. “We must find out what she was working on and finish her story.”

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