Kyiv, Ukraine – Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who was captured by Russian forces while reporting from occupied eastern Ukraine, has died in Russian detention, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Thursday. Roshchyna, who would have turned 28 this month, disappeared in August 2023 after traveling to Russian-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine to cover the war.
Her disappearance remained a mystery until April 2024, when her father received a letter from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, notifying him that she was being held in Russian detention. The exact circumstances of her arrest were never made public, and her location inside Russia was not disclosed.
“Unfortunately, information about Victoria’s death has been confirmed,” said Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s prisoner of war coordination headquarters. Yatsenko added that the exact cause and circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, and efforts are underway to establish more details.
According to Russian news outlet Mediazona, Roshchyna died while being transferred to Moscow from a prison in Taganrog, a city near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian authorities suspect she was among thousands of Ukrainians detained by Russian security forces since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many detainees, particularly those opposed to Moscow’s rule, have faced torture and inhumane conditions, according to human rights groups.
Roshchyna had been working as a freelance journalist for various independent outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda, and had collaborated with Radio Free Europe’s Ukrainian service. In recognition of her bravery in reporting from conflict zones, Roshchyna was awarded the prestigious Courage in Journalism Award in 2022 by the International Women’s Media Foundation.
Her death has sparked outrage among international press freedom advocates. Reporters Without Borders expressed its shock and sorrow, offering condolences to her family. Ukrainian authorities have also stated that more than two dozen Ukrainian media professionals remain in Russian captivity, with ongoing negotiations for their release.
Roshchyna’s untimely death has highlighted the growing dangers faced by journalists covering war in Ukraine, particularly in Russian-occupied territories, where media personnel risk detention, abuse, and death. As Ukraine continues to battle Russian forces, the fate of many detained Ukrainians, including journalists, remains a pressing concern for both the Ukrainian government and international rights organizations.
