Ukrainian journalist Viktorija Rošćina died in Russian captivity

The Rošćina case highlights the dangers faced by journalists reporting in war zones. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 100 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been directly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

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Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Rošćina, who disappeared in the territories occupied by Russia, died while in Russian captivity, Ukrainian authorities announced on October 10.

The news was confirmed by Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Ukrainian Coordinating Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, after an internal investigation into her disappearance.

"We conducted an internal investigation and unfortunately, the information about Victoria's death was confirmed," Yatsenko said. However, the circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear and are still under investigation, he added.

Rošćina, a freelance journalist who previously worked for Radio Free Europe (RSE) and other prominent Ukrainian media, disappeared in early August 2023.

She traveled from Ukraine to Poland on July 27 last year before heading to Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, according to her father, Volodomir Rošcin. Her last known communication was on August 3, 2023.

Yatsenko revealed that efforts are underway to secure Roscina's release from Russian captivity, where she is being held along with at least 25 other Ukrainian journalists. These journalists were either detained or disappeared in areas under Russian control.

Andriy Yusov from Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed that Rošćina was scheduled for a prisoner exchange, and according to the latest information, she was transferred from Taganrog, a Russian city near the border with Ukraine, to Moscow's Lefortovo detention center in preparation for her release.

The Ukrainian authorities are now trying to understand what happened during this transfer.

The Rošćina case highlights the dangers faced by journalists reporting in war zones. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 100 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been directly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Several Ukrainian journalists remain detained or missing in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, and Roshchina's death underscores the ongoing risks facing members of the press in conflict zones.

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