Ukrainian Tortured in Russian Detention
- An international team of journalists has uncovered disturbing details surrounding the detention and death of Ukrainian journalist Wiktoria Roschtschyna, who disappeared while reporting in Russian-occupied territory.
- Roschtschyna's colleagues remember her as a dedicated and principled journalist with a strong sense of justice.
- Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Roschtschyna focused on reporting from occupied areas.In March 2022, she was initially detained by the FSB in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Investigation Reveals grim Details of Ukrainian Journalist’s Detention in Russia
An international team of journalists has uncovered disturbing details surrounding the detention and death of Ukrainian journalist Wiktoria Roschtschyna, who disappeared while reporting in Russian-occupied territory. The investigation, involving 45 journalists, included nearly 50 interviews with former Russian prisoners and witnesses who were detained alongside Roschtschyna.
Roschtschyna’s colleagues remember her as a dedicated and principled journalist with a strong sense of justice. Born in zaporizhzhia and raised in Kryvyi Rih,she began her journalism career at 16 in Kyiv.She later gained a reputation as an uncompromising court reporter at Hromadske,known for her persistence in seeking answers from lawyers and prosecutors.
Early Detention and Continued Reporting
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Roschtschyna focused on reporting from occupied areas.In March 2022, she was initially detained by the FSB in the Zaporizhzhia region. After ten days,she was released but forced to record a video thanking her captors.
Despite attempts by hromadske to dissuade her, Roschtschyna continued reporting in occupied territories as a freelancer, contributing to outlets like Ukrainian Truth. She made at least four trips before disappearing on her last assignment.
Roschtschyna was one of the few Ukrainian journalists reporting on Russian activities in occupied areas under her own name. Her final investigation aimed to expose a network of informal detention centers and identify FSB agents involved in the mistreatment of Ukrainian civilians.
Reports indicate Roschtschyna traveled from Kyiv to Poland by bus on July 25, 2023, crossing the Latvian-Russian border the following day.She likely traveled south through Russia to the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
Torture and Imprisonment
Roschtschyna’s investigation led her to Enerhodar, near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. She was last heard from in early August and is believed to have been arrested by local police in Enerhodar and transported to Melitopol, also under Russian occupation. She reportedly spent five months in an unofficial prison there.
A fellow prisoner reported that Roschtschyna was subjected to torture, including electric shocks and cuts on her hands and feet. She was later transferred to a pre-trial detention center (SIZO-2) in Taganrog, Russia, known for its brutal conditions.
Testimonies from released ukrainian soldiers and civilians detail systematic torture at the Taganrog facility, including beatings with sticks and metal poles upon arrival, referred to as “reception.” Several prisoners died during this initial phase.
conditions and Death
By autumn 2024, 15 deaths of ukrainian prisoners had been documented at the Taganrog prison. Torture methods included electric shocks, near-drowning, and severe beatings, coupled with minimal nutrition.
Roschtschyna’s health deteriorated considerably.she reportedly weighed onyl 30 kilograms and refused the prison food, frequently enough made from expired ingredients or waste. A cellmate recounted helping her to sit up.
In June 2024, she was hospitalized and later returned to the prison in improved condition, where she was placed in solitary confinement.
Throughout her detention, Roschtschyna had no contact with family or legal depiction. She was not formally charged or given official procedural status. In August, she was allowed a brief phone call with her parents, during which she appeared cautious but happy and mentioned a possible exchange.
Unanswered Questions Surrounding Death
On September 8, 2024, Roschtschyna and other prisoners were taken to record statements in planning for an exchange, according to a former cellmate. She was not present during the exchange on September 14.
In October, her father received an email from Russian military police stating that she had died on September 19, without providing details about the cause or circumstances.
The exact circumstances of Roschtschyna’s death remain unclear. Ukrainian investigators have not yet determined the cause of death due to the condition of her body. Her father,Wolodymyr,awaits further medical examinations and remains skeptical of the official account.
Calls for Accountability
“We don’t know exactly how she was killed,” said Tetjana Bezruk, a former colleague. ”But it is certain that they have done everything to cover up the cause of death. International observer missions have to put pressure on the Russian authorities and demand access to the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who are held by russia.”
The Ukrainian Institute for Mass Information (IMI) reports that 112 journalists from Russia have been arrested or detained on Ukrainian territory as 2014,with 30 still held in Russian prisons.
According to Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, up to 16,000 Ukrainian civilians may be in Russian captivity, with the whereabouts of only 1,800 known. Only 171 kidnapped Ukrainian citizens have been returned through exchange programs.
Investigation Reveals Grim Details of Ukrainian Journalist’s Detention in Russia
This article explores the tragic story of Ukrainian journalist Wiktoria Roschtschyna, focusing on the circumstances of her detention and death in Russian custody. the data is based on an investigation by an international team of journalists.
Who Was Wiktoria Roschtschyna?
Q: Who was Wiktoria Roschtschyna?
A: Wiktoria Roschtschyna was a Ukrainian journalist known for her dedication and principled reporting. She began her career at 16 and later gained recognition as a court reporter.
Q: What kind of journalist was she?
A: Roschtschyna was a dedicated and uncompromising journalist with a strong sense of justice,known for seeking answers from lawyers and prosecutors. She was one of the few journalists reporting on Russian activities in occupied areas under her own name.
Q: What was her background?
A: She was born in Zaporizhzhia and raised in Kryvyi Rih,Ukraine. She started her journalism career in Kyiv at the age of 16.
Her Reporting in Occupied Territories
Q: What areas did Wiktoria Roschtschyna report from?
A: Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Roschtschyna focused on reporting from Russian-occupied territories.
Q: When was she first detained?
A: She was initially detained in March 2022 by the FSB in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Q: What happened after her initial detention?
A: After ten days, she was released but forced to record a video thanking her captors. Despite attempts to dissuade her, she continued to report from the occupied territories.
Q: What was the focus of her final investigation?
A: Her final investigation aimed to expose a network of informal detention centers and identify FSB agents involved in the mistreatment of Ukrainian civilians.
The Circumstances of Her Disappearance and Detention
Q: When did Wiktoria Roschtschyna disappear?
A: She disappeared on her last assignment. Reports indicate she travelled from Kyiv to Poland on July 25, 2023, then crossed the Latvian-Russian border the following day, likely en route to the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
Q: Where was she last heard from?
A: She was last heard from in early August and is believed to have been arrested in Enerhodar and transported to Melitopol, both under Russian occupation.
Q: Where was she imprisoned?
A: She was reportedly held in an unofficial prison in Melitopol for five months. Later,she was transferred to the pre-trial detention center (SIZO-2) in Taganrog,Russia.
The Torture and Conditions of Her Imprisonment
Q: What were the conditions of her imprisonment in Taganrog?
A: The Taganrog facility was known for brutal conditions. Testimonies detail systematic torture, including beatings with sticks and metal poles, especially upon arrival. Minimal nutrition was provided.
Q: Was she subjected to torture?
A: Yes, a fellow prisoner reported that Roschtschyna was subjected to torture that included electric shocks and cuts on her hands and feet.
Q: What was the impact of the conditions on her health?
A: Her health deteriorated considerably. She reportedly weighed only 30 kilograms and refused the prison food.
Q: Did she have contact with her family or legal representation?
A: Throughout her detention, she had no contact with family or legal representation.
Her Death and the Unanswered Questions
Q: When did Wiktoria roschtschyna die?
A: According to an email from Russian military police to her father,she died on September 19,2024.
Q: What is the cause of her death?
A: The exact circumstances of her death remain unclear. Ukrainian investigators have not yet determined the cause of death due to the condition of her body.
Q: What happened shortly before her death?
A: On September 8, 2024, she and other prisoners were taken to record statements in planning for an exchange. She was not present during the exchange on September 14.
Q: What is her father’s current status?
A: her father, Wolodymyr, awaits further medical examinations and remains skeptical of the official account of her death.
Calls for accountability and the Broader Context
Q: What is the international response to her death?
A: Calls for international observer missions to pressure Russian authorities and demand access to Ukrainian prisoners in Russia.
Q: What is the number of journalists arrested or detained by Russia?
A: The Ukrainian Institute for Mass Information (IMI) reports that 112 journalists have been arrested or detained in Ukrainian territory since 2014, with 30 still held in Russian prisons.
Q: How many Ukrainian civilians are believed to be in Russian captivity?
A: According to the Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, up to 16,000 Ukrainian civilians might potentially be in Russian captivity, with the whereabouts of only 1,800