Victoria Roshchyna: A grim chapter in the world of journalism
Well, ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round because you’re in for a tale that’s about as uplifting as a lead balloon! Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna has seen her story morph from a disappearance into a rather terrible war crime—and when I say terrible, I mean ‘a bad day at the office’ took on a whole new meaning.
On October 11, news broke from the Prosecutor General’s office—a place that sounds like it only has bad news to offer—indicating that the criminal proceedings regarding Roshchyna’s disappearance have been reclassified as an intentional murder. Yes, folks, you heard that right! For those keeping score at home, that’s a win for neither side in this debacle. You thought your Monday was rough? Try tracing the steps of a journalist caught in the crossfire of two countries with their own ‘issues’.
The backbone of law enforcement in Ukraine seems to be gearing up, as the Main Investigative Department of the Security Service will carry out the pre-trial investigation. I can just see them now: coffee mugs in hand, glaring at their computer screens, trying to solve the ‘mystery of the missing journalist’ like the world’s least successful episode of C.S.I. – War Crimes Division.
On October 10, reports indicated that Roshchyna, a brave soul critically involved in chronicling life in occupied territories, died in Russian custody. Now, that’s a headline that would make even the most hardened news editor weep into their morning coffee. Can we take a moment to appreciate that she went missing just before that? Oh wait, let’s not! It’s all too tragic and unreal.
To add fuel to the fire—the Media Initiative for Human Rights chimed in with details that could chill even the most hardened journalist’s bones. Reports say Russia was keeping Roshchyna in pretrial detention center No. 2 in Taganrog, and in correctional colony No. 77 in Berdyansk, where torture was part of the daily grind. You know it’s bad when being ‘held in captivity’ doesn’t even cut it as an oxymoron anymore!
Roshchyna first found herself in the Russian clutches back in March 2022, during attempts to report on the realities of life in occupied Ukraine. Don’t worry—she was released. But not before she’d been made to shoot a video claiming she had no complaints about the Russian military. It’s like getting a mugshot to prove your innocence—you can practically hear the eye rolls echoing in the newsrooms.
After a brief jaunt back to safety, our brave journalist attempted to return to the very situations she had been reporting on, perhaps feeling like the world needed more fearless storytellers. Ironically, life outside the occupied territories must have felt a bit too tame! Unfortunately, she was out of contact by August 3, 2023, which is alarmingly close to an ‘unplugged’ experience mixed with a distinct concern for whereabouts. As her father confirmed, she was taken captive by Russian forces.
Roshchyna, prolific as a bee during a pollen spring, had collaborated with media outlets like Radio Liberty, Ukrainian Pravda, and even took her talents to the likes of Censor.net. In many ways, she epitomized the journalist’s duty: risking it all for the truth. Fast forward to now, and we’re left to ponder—how many more stories end in tragedy, simply for seeking the truth?
So, here we stand—a tad more somber, reminded yet again of the hazards of reporting in hostile territories. Roshchyna’s case is a chilling reminder of the price paid by those who brave the dangerous world of war reporting. Her unfortunate fate serves as a stark warning that, sometimes, the truth isn’t just out there—it may just be tucked away in a dark corner where we can’t reach. And while we all know laughter is the best medicine, it hardly feels appropriate when discussing war crimes and tragic loses, does it?
In short, while we take a moment of reflection for Victoria Roshchyna and the multitude of journalists who have faced similar fates, let’s remember—truth needs voices; even if they are occasionally threatened with disappearance.
The criminal proceedings opened in connection with the disappearance of the Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna in the Russian Federation have been reclassified as a war crime combined with intentional murder. reported October 11 in the office of the Prosecutor General.
The pre-trial investigation will be carried out by the Main Investigative Department of the Security Service of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the message states.
On October 10, Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Coordination Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in Ukraine, reported that Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna, who went missing during a trip to the occupied territories and was held in Russian territory, died in Russian captivity.
The Media Initiative for Human Rights reported that Russia held Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna in pretrial detention center No. 2 in Taganrog, Rostov region of the Russian Federation, and in correctional colony No. 77 in occupied Berdyansk, Zaporizhia region, where prisoners are tortured.
The Russians first detained Roschyna in Berdyansk in March 2022, when she was writing reports for the media (including Radio Liberty) about life in the temporarily occupied territories. Then the journalist was released, forced to record a video message that she had no complaints against the Russian military. Roshchyna returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine, but in July 2023 again went to the territories occupied by Moscow.
Viktoriya Roschyna stopped contacting her relatives on August 3, 2023. According to her father, Roschyna left Ukraine for Poland on July 27 and was supposed to reach the occupied territories in the east of Ukraine (via Russia) in three days. Then Volodymyr Roschyn said that the Ukrainian Security Service confirmed to the family that Victoria had been captured by Russian forces.
Victoria Roshchyna was the author of a series of reports for Radio Liberty, she collaborated with Radio Liberty in 2022 as a freelancer. She also cooperated with “Ukrainian Pravda”, hromadske, “Ukrainian Radio”, “UA:Pershiy” and “Censor.net”.
