Ukrainian Journalist Roshchyna, Who Died in Russian Captivity, Was Detained in "One of the Most Brutal Centers"

Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity, was held in detention centers known for the use of torture against prisoners, according to the Media Initiative for Human Rights on October 11.

Ukrainian officials confirmed Roshchyna’s death on October 10, but the circumstances surrounding it are still under investigation.

Roshchyna went missing in the occupied territories of Ukraine in August 2023.

The Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian NGO dedicated to human rights advocacy and investigations, reported that Roshchyna was imprisoned in at least two facilities: penal colony number 77 in Berdiansk, located in occupied Ukraine, and a detention facility in Taganrog, Russia.

Both facilities are known for using torture against detainees. The NGO stated that it has knowledge of instances of prisoners being electrocuted at the Berdiansk prison.

The Taganrog detention center is described as “one of the most brutal detention centers in Russia,” according to the initiative, which cited testimonies from former prisoners. Many Azov Brigade fighters captured after the siege of Azovstal are believed to be held there.

“Viktoriia was in solitary confinement at Taganrog from at least May to September 2024,” said Tetiana Katrychenko, the NGO’s executive director, on Facebook.

Roshchyna was reportedly moved from Taganrog to an unknown location in September, and Russia claims she died on September 19.

The details surrounding her transfer, whether it was for a potential prisoner exchange, and whether her death resulted from torture or abuse by Russian captors remain unclear, according to the NGO.

Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, informed the Suspilne media outlet that Roshchyna was expected to be included in an upcoming prisoner exchange.

Ukrainian prosecutors, who were previously investigating Roshchyna’s disappearance, have now reclassified the case as a war crime and murder.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) published a report confirming that over half of the prisoners of war (POWs) interviewed had endured some form of sexual violence and claimed at least 32 POWs had been executed on just 12 separate occasions.