Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna has died in a Russian jail: RSF demands an investigation into the circumstances of her death
Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna died in Russian prison on 19 September. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) offers its sincerest condolences to her family and demands a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The Russian authorities have not released any information about her detention.
"RSF mourns the death of Victoria Roshchyna, an independent Ukrainian journalist detained in Russia. The Russian authorities have never provided any information about her detention, despite repeated requests from her family, the Ukrainian authorities, and RSF. They must shed light on all the circumstances surrounding her detention and death. Our thoughts and support go out to her loved ones.
Ukrainian freelance journalist Victoria Roshchyna died in captivity in Russia on 19 September, according to a letter from the Russian Defence Ministry received by her family on 10 October. Roshchyna is now the 13th journalist to die due to their work since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. She was one of twenty Ukrainian journalists detained by Russia for their reporting.
The freelance journalist, who worked for the independent Ukrainian media Ukrayinska Pravda, disappeared on 3 August 2023, while traveling to the occupied territories of Ukraine via Russia to cover the war. Since then, there has been no sign of life from Roshchyna, despite requests to the Russian authorities, including a request from RSF.
Since 24 February 2022, around one hundred Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been victims of abuse by Russian occupation forces. Nineteen are still being held by Russia, which refuses to provide information about the detention of some of these journalists.
Russia ranks 162nd out of 180 countries in the RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index; Ukraine is in 61st place.
