**Ukraine Returns Body of Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, Who Died in Russian Captivity**
The body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who was brutally tortured and killed while in Russian captivity, has been returned to Ukraine. According to Deputy Interior Minister Leonid Tymchenko, Roshchyna’s body was identified through DNA testing and was brought back to Ukraine in late February.
Roshchyna, 27, had gone missing in August 2023 while reporting from Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories. Moscow later admitted her detention, but it took about five months for Russia to hand over her body after Ukrainian officials confirmed her death on October 10, 2024.
**Circumstances of Roshchyna’s Death Still Under Investigation**
Ukrainian officials had previously confirmed Roshchyna’s death in October 2024, but said that the circumstances were still under investigation. Russia claimed that Roshchyna died on September 19, 2024.
Roshchyna was held in at least two notorious Russian prisons, where she was subjected to torture and electric shocks. A witness who spoke to Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.Info described seeing cuts on Roshchyna’s arms after interrogations, and said that the journalist had lost significant weight while in captivity.
**Russia’s Brutal Treatment of Prisoners Exposed**
The Media Initiative for Human Rights reported that Roshchyna was held in prisons known for their use of torture against prisoners. The brutal treatment of prisoners is a dark stain on Russia’s human rights record, and has been exposed by numerous reports and investigations.
Roshchyna’s death is a tragic reminder of the risks faced by journalists and civilians in Ukraine who dare to speak out against Russian occupation. Her story highlights the need for greater accountability from Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
**Family Requests DNA Exams to Confirm Identity**
According to Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a Ukrainian lawmaker, Roshchyna’s family requested multiple DNA examinations to confirm her identity due to the uncertainty surrounding her death and the condition of her body. The fact that these exams were carried out both in Ukraine and abroad speaks to the efforts made by authorities to ensure that it was indeed Viktoriia Roshchyna who died in Russian captivity.
As we reflect on Roshchyna’s tragic story, we must also acknowledge the bravery of Ukrainian journalists like her who risk everything to report the truth from conflict zones. Their work is crucial to exposing human rights abuses and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
