Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Dies in Russian Captivity, Was Set to Be Exchanged Soon

Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna has reportedly died in Russian captivity.

The information regarding her death has been confirmed by Petro Yatsenko, head of the press service for the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War , during a televised marathon.

According to him, the circumstances of her death are currently unknown. Roshchyna went missing in the occupied territories of Ukraine in August 2023.

HUR representative Andrii Yusov in a comment to Suspilne reported that "Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian citizen unlawfully held by the Russian Federation, was registered in the relevant databases on the Ukrainian side. The Coordination Headquarters did everything possible to bring her home. Her return had been agreed upon, and the last information we have is that she was transferred to 'Lefortovo' for the purpose of preparing for her return home."

Roshchyna had been on the front lines since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On March 16, 2022, news emerged about the journalist's detention by representatives of the Russian Federal Security Service. The International Women's Media Foundation reported that Viktoriia Roshchyna went missing on August 3 while covering a story in the temporarily occupied territories.

Viktoriia Roshchyna worked for Hromadske and contributed to "Ukrainska Pravda" and "Radio Liberty." In 2022, she received the International Women's Media Foundation's award for "Courage in Journalism."