What Happened To Viktoria Roshchyna? Russia Returns Ukrainian Journalist Body

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, aged 27, has been confirmed dead after being held for over a year in Russian detention.

She disappeared in the summer of 2023, near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, during what was at least her fourth reporting trip into Russian-occupied territories.

After being missing for months, Viktoria was found to have been held in a detention center in Rostov, Russia, with no access to lawyers or the outside world — a violation of international human rights laws. Her only contact was a four-minute phone call with her parents during her detention.

In February 2024, her remains were returned to Ukraine as part of a handover of 757 Ukrainian military casualties. Every other body was labeled with names and details. But in her case, she was wrongly listed as an “unidentified man.” It took weeks of DNA testing to confirm that the remains were hers.

Worryingly, several body parts were missing, including her brain, eyes, and larynx, and her head had been shaved. A preliminary forensic report found burn marks on her feet, signs of electric shock, abrasions on her hips and head, and a broken rib. The hyoid bone in her neck was also fractured — a common indicator of strangulation — though the missing organs make it impossible to determine the exact cause of death.

Held Without Rights, Tortured in Custody

Initial reports say Viktoria was first detained in Melitopol. A cellmate later revealed that she was subjected to electric shocks and knife torture. By the end of 2023, she had been moved to Sizo 2 prison in Russia, where conditions were even worse. There, prisoners were beaten, waterboarded, and shocked in electric chairs, often surviving on barely enough food.

Viktoria’s health quickly declined. Her weight dropped to 30 kg (less than 5 stone), and she could no longer walk without help. Despite this, her family received a vague letter from Russia’s defense ministry in April 2024, confirming only that she was being detained in the Russian Federation — with no details.

Family Fights for Answers, Russia Denies Her Presence

Her colleagues from Ukrainska Pravda, where she worked, made serious efforts to raise awareness. One message even reached Pope Francis, who agreed to request that Viktoria be added to the prisoner exchange list.

Viktoria was told she would be released, but on the September 13, 2023 exchange date, she did not appear. A week later, Russia’s deputy military police chief claimed she had died on September 19.

Her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn, did not believe this and continued to demand answers. The director of Sizo 2, Aleksandr Shtoda, has since denied that Viktoria was ever in the prison — contradicting reports from witnesses and investigations.

A Brave Reporter Silenced

Viktoria was known for her bravery and commitment to uncovering the truth. She was investigating the abduction and torture of Ukrainian civilians in Russian-occupied areas. Ukraine estimates that over 16,000 civilians are being held without charge in more than 180 Russian detention camps. The United Nations has described these actions as “disturbing” and “extreme in scale.”

A war crimes investigation has now been opened into Viktoria’s detention and death. Her story is one of many that highlight the dangerous reality for journalists reporting in conflict zones — and the heavy price they sometimes pay.