Ukraine Says Journalist’s Body Shows Signs Of Torture After Return From Russia

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna died connected Sept. 19, 2024, successful Russian captivity, according to a associated investigation by Forbidden Stories. Her assemblage was returned to Ukraine successful early 2025, months aft Russia confirmed her death. Ukraine’s charismatic general’s agency reported grounds of torture, including surgery ribs, hemorrhages and abrasions, but could not find an charismatic origin of decease owed to nan authorities of her remains.

Roshchyna vanished successful August 2023 while reporting successful Russian-occupied Ukraine. She was later confirmed to beryllium successful detention by Russian authorities.

What grounds supports claims of torture and organ removal?

Reuters reports that a forensic introspection was conducted aft nan return of her body, which revealed extended injuries, including surgery bones, electrical burns connected her feet and cervix trauma accordant pinch strangulation. Her brain, eyes and larynx were missing, starring Ukrainian warfare crimes prosecutors to fishy Russia attempted to obscure nan existent origin of death. Ukrainian officials person launched a warfare crimes investigation and are calling for world accountability.

What do investigators cognize astir her clip successful captivity?

Roshchyna was arrested successful Enerhodar and initially held successful Melitopol earlier being transferred to Taganrog prison successful Russia, a installation known for its mistreatment of Ukrainian detainees. An investigation by Reporters Without Borders and Ukrainian outlets revealed that Roshchyna suffered months of worsening health, received small to nary aesculapian care, and was seen being evacuated connected a stretcher successful June 2024.

Witnesses described signs of utmost weight nonaccomplishment and affectional distress. She was past seen successful early September 2024. Russian authorities later declared she died connected Sept. 19, 2024, conscionable earlier she was scheduled to beryllium portion of a captive exchange.

What is Russia’s way grounds connected detaining journalists?

Press state groups opportunity Roshchyna’s lawsuit fits a larger pattern. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), astatine slightest 12 Ukrainian journalists person been detained successful Russian-occupied territories since 2022, and 2 stay missing. Press state groups, including Reporters Without Borders, picture Russia’s communications arsenic deliberately opaque, pinch family members often learning of detentions aliases deaths done vague charismatic letters. Roshchyna’s begetter received specified a missive from Russia’s Defense Ministry announcing her decease months aft she vanished.

Since nan commencement of Russia’s full-scale penetration successful February 2022, astatine slightest 12 journalists person been killed while reporting successful nan field, according to RSF. Another 35 person been injured, and much than 100 person knowledgeable violence, threats, aliases abduction.

RSF has revenge aggregate warfare crimes complaints connected behalf of affected journalists. In occupied areas, section media companies person been silenced aliases forced to close, pinch complete 230 Ukrainian outlets shuttered owed to information risks aliases economical collapse.

Russian authorities person not responded to requests for remark aliases allowed independent entree to documentation. Without an charismatic autopsy aliases practice from Russian institutions, groups opportunity verifying nan circumstances of Roshchyna’s decease whitethorn beryllium impossible.

Roshchyna was wide respected successful Ukraine for her warfare sum and was recognized pinch nan 2022 Courage successful Journalism Award from nan International Women’s Media Foundation. Despite being detained erstwhile earlier successful 2022, she continued reporting from nan beforehand statement and occupied areas.

How person officials and media responded to her death?

Ukrainian officials and world organizations, including UNESCO and nan Committee to Protect Journalists, person condemned Roshchyna’s decease and demanded a transparent investigation. NBC News says she was nan first known Ukrainian journalist to die successful Russian captivity during nan war. Ukrainian overseas ministry officials opportunity her lawsuit highlights broader concerns, noting that thousands of Ukrainian civilians stay detained without charges crossed Russia and occupied territories. Roshchyna was posthumously honored by media colleagues and remains a awesome of journalistic courageousness amid war.