Ukrainian journalist Roschyna dies in Russian captivity – Coordination HQ
Journalist of the Hromadske Ukrainian publication Viktoria Roschyna, who prepared materials on military actions in the east and south of Ukraine in 2022 and was kidnapped by Russian occupiers in Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region, died in Russian captivity, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in Ukraine Petro Yatsenko said.
"Indeed, we conducted an internal investigation and, unfortunately, this information has been confirmed. Unfortunately, the information about Victoria's death has been confirmed," Yatsenko said on the air of the national telethon on Thursday evening.
According to him, it is too early to talk about the circumstances of Roschyna's death, they are being clarified. At the same time, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters said that work was underway to free the journalist from captivity.
"Viktoria Roschyna, like all Ukrainian journalists, is currently listed as being in Russian captivity. About 25 Ukrainian journalists [are in captivity in Russia], there are also those considered missing. Work is underway on all of them. And work was also underway to free Victoria, and the fact that she was transferred from Taganrog to Moscow was a stage of her preparation for release," Yatsenko said.
Later, a representative of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Yusov told Ukrainska Pravda publication that there was no official confirmation of Roschyna's death from Russia. The Intelligence Agency received this information and is checking it.
He said that Roschyna was supposed to be included in one of the upcoming prisoner exchanges. She was supposed to be transferred to Lefortovo prison in Moscow to prepare for her return to Ukraine. "She was supposed to be home soon, everything necessary was done for this," Yusov said.
As reported, on March 15, 2022, representatives of the Russian FSB and the Russian occupation armed forces kidnapped Viktoria Roschyna in the city of Berdiansk, Zaporizhia region, who was preparing materials about military operations in the east and south of Ukraine. After that, her whereabouts were unknown for a long time. A criminal case was opened for violating the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
In 2023, she again traveled to the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine via third countries to prepare a report and disappeared on August 3. In May 2024, Russia admitted for the first time that it had detained Roschyna.