MFA calls for international response to Viktoria Roshchyna investigation findings

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyi, called in a post on X for an international response to the findgins of the journalist investigation into the murder of Ukrainian reporter Viktoria Roshchyna in Russian custody.

"We urge the international community to respond to the findings of this investigation, which reveal systemic war crimes, human rights violations, abduction, torture, and murder in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia," the MFA spokesperson wrote.

Illustration by Ukrainska Pravda

He stressed that Viktoria Roshchyna's bravery, commitment to journalism, and genuine concern for human life were extraordinary.

"This collaborative journalistic work emphasizes her heroism and the barbarism of her murder by the Russians, while also expanding her efforts to expose the horrific fate of thousands of civilian hostages held by Russia," said Heorhiy Tykhyi.

He addressed organizations such as:

• the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;
• the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office in Ukraine;
  
• the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;
• the Council of Europe;
• the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media;
• the Council of Europe Directorate of Human Rights;
• the Human Rights Watch;
• Amnesty International;
• Reporters Without Borders.

"The issue of civilian hostages abducted and held by Russia requires increased international attention and immediate and strong response. Because what we are seeing right now is most likely the largest state-led civilian abduction operation in recent memory," the spokesperson emphasized.

Victoria Roshchyna's death

On April 24, Yuriy Belousov, chair of the War Department at the Prosecutor General's Office, said that the forensic medical examination had failed to identify the causes of death of journalist Viktoria Roshchina, who died in Russian custody, due to the body's state. However, numerous signs of torture were found on Viktoria's body.

It was reported on April 24 that the body of Victoria Roshchyna had been brought back to Ukraine in late February this year. She was identified through DNA testing.

The investigation “Viktoriia Project”, which was released by Ukrainska Pravda in partnership with Forbidden Stories and multiple international media outlets on April 29, found that Russia had handed over to Ukraine the body of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, which was listed in the documents as an “unidentified male” and had a single label of unclear meaning: SPAS. During the examination, it turned out that some internal organs were missing from the body. In particular, the brain, eyeballs, and part of the trachea.

The death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna in Russian detention was reported on October 10, 2024. Petro Yatsenko of the Coordinating Headquarters for POW Treatment confirmed reports of Viktoria Roshchyna's death.

Viktoria Roshchyna's name was on the swap lists, according to Defense Intelligence representative Andriy Yusov.

Russia earlier admitted detaining Viktoria Roshchyna, who went missing on August 3, 2023 in the temporarily occupied territory. Viktoria was held captive in Russia.

Slidstvo.Info discovered that Victoria Roshchyna was brutally tortured in Russian custody: there were stab wounds on her body, the journalist weighed under 30 kilograms, and Russian prison officers hid her from checks.