A new documentary and investigation by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Ukrainian media outlets have revealed the brutal torture and inhumane conditions endured by Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna before her reported death in Russian captivity.
The film, titled Vika’s Last Assignment, premiered in Kyiv last week, presenting new details about her capture, mistreatment, and the uncertainty surrounding her fate.
Roshchyna, a freelance journalist and contributor to Ukrainska Pravda, traveled to Russian-occupied territories in 2023 to report on Russia’s sham elections, the aftermath of the Kakhovka dam disaster, and conditions at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. To reach the occupied region, she took a route through Russia. Shortly after arriving, she was detained by Russian forces and later imprisoned in the Taganrog SIZO-2 detention center.
For months, her family and colleagues awaited news of her fate. However, in October 2024, her father received a letter from Russian authorities stating that she had died. Her body has not been returned, and the circumstances of her death remain unclear.
Journalists from Slidstvo.Info, Graty, Suspilne, and RSF traced Roshchyna’s path, investigating her captivity and gathering testimonies from those who saw and communicated with her in prison. Their findings expose previously unknown crimes committed against a journalist who risked her life to fulfill her professional duty but never returned.
Captivity and Torture
Roshchyna was detained in Enerhodar in August 2023 while working on a report. Witnesses last heard from her on 8 September 2024, shortly before she was transferred to an unknown location. For months, Russian authorities refused to acknowledge her detention. It was only in April 2024 that they admitted she was being held in Russia, without specifying charges or her exact location.
After being held in Melitopol, she was moved in December 2023 to Taganrog prison in Russia, notorious for its harsh treatment of Ukrainian detainees. Testimonies from former prisoners indicate that Roshchyna was subjected to severe abuse, including electric shocks, physical beatings, threats of sexual violence, and extreme malnutrition. She was kept in freezing conditions, with guards reportedly removing windows from cells to expose prisoners to the elements.
A fellow detainee in Taganrog reported that Roshchyna had multiple scars on her arms and legs, as well as a fresh knife wound on her forearm. She had endured repeated electric shocks during interrogations, with wires attached to her ears. Despite her deteriorating condition, prison authorities denied her access to medical care.
Declining Health and Disappearance
By spring 2024, Roshchyna’s health had deteriorated significantly. She suffered from panic attacks, severe weight loss, and untreated medical conditions. Fellow prisoners recalled that she eventually stopped eating, while Russian authorities ignored her pleas for medical assistance. In March 2024, during an inspection by Russian human rights officials, she was reportedly hidden from view to prevent them from seeing her condition.
By June 2024, her weight had dropped to just 30 kilograms, and she was too weak to lift her head. Eventually, she was carried out of the prison on a stretcher, with some inmates believing she had died. However, she was later returned to her cell, appearing slightly stronger but still in grave condition.
On 8 September 2024, she was seen for the last time in Taganrog. Witnesses reported that she had been moved out of the facility ahead of a planned prisoner exchange on 13 September, but she was not among those released. Ten days later, Russian authorities declared her dead, yet failed to provide evidence or return her remains. No explanation was given regarding her final days.
Ongoing Uncertainty
Ukraine continues to press for answers, but Russia has refused to provide any further clarification. The letter sent to Roshchyna’s father simply stated that she had died on 19 September 2024, without any details. Her family has not received any official confirmation or denial of this claim, and her remains have not been returned for burial. Human rights organisations have made repeated inquiries, but Russian authorities have ignored all requests.
Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, stated: “We are continuing efforts to bring Viktoria’s body back. Until then, we cannot confirm the details of her fate.”
Investigators in Ukraine are considering all possibilities, including that Roshchyna was subjected to torture, denied medical care, or died due to the conditions of her detention. Ukrainian prosecutors have confirmed that their inquiry includes both the possibility that she remains alive and that she was killed.
The investigation by RSF and its Ukrainian partners highlights the systematic targeting of journalists by Russian forces. At least 19 Ukrainian journalists remain in Russian captivity, many of whom have been subjected to torture and forced disappearances. The lack of transparency surrounding Roshchyna’s case raises further concerns about the treatment of prisoners.
“This investigation reveals the extent of the ill-treatment inflicted on Viktoria Roshchyna and the extreme delay in her medical treatment despite the rapid deterioration in her state of health,” said Arnaud Froger, head of RSF’s investigation office. “By refusing to release her or provide care until she could no longer stand, Russia bears full responsibility for her fate.”
The journalist’s body remains unaccounted for, reinforcing fears that Russian authorities are concealing evidence of mistreatment. The search for answers continues.
