The Death of Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriya Roshchina: Cause of Death Remains Unclear Due to Poor Body Condition
The Office of the Prosecutor General reports that on February 25 of this year, in accordance with the terms of the exchange of prisoners with Russia, Ukrainian security services returned the body of Viktoriya Roshchina, a well-known Ukrainian journalist and freelancer, to Ukraine. However, despite preliminary examinations already conducted, the exact cause of her death has not yet been determined due to the complex condition of the body—many changes and injuries that complicate forensic analysis. According to Yuriy Belousov, head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in Armed Conflict Conditions, experts are currently conducting additional investigations. He noted that, as part of the reanalysis, international specialists, including French experts, are involved in performing a comprehensive forensic examination to help more precisely establish the circumstances of her death. An official source reports that on February 25, in the city of Vinnytsia, during the exchange, the bodies of several deceased individuals were delivered — one of them being Viktoriya Roshchina. A tag bearing her surname was found on one of the bodies, and DNA testing confirmed it was indeed her, as the samples from her parents matched the samples obtained from the body. Belousov also emphasized that additional DNA testing of her parents was conducted, and the expert conclusions, with a high probability (over 99%), affirm that the body indeed belongs to Viktoriya Roshchina. At the same time, the official noted that the state of the body has made it difficult to establish the exact causes of her death. Numerous signs of torture and brutal treatment were detected. Experts documented bruises, bleeding, a fractured rib, and possible signs of electric shock application. These findings suggest the use of torture, which further complicates establishing an objective picture of the events. All these findings will be thoroughly analyzed during additional examinations involving international specialists, as the situation requires the most careful approach. The journalistic community and Viktoriya Roshchina’s family have long insisted on conducting comprehensive international investigations to uncover the truth about her death. Savgodyla Musaieva, chief editor of "Ukrainian Pravda," citing information from the Office of the Prosecutor General, said that the body of the journalist was known to have been returned long ago, but due to family concerns and the desire to receive additional international expert opinions, authorities withheld this information until all necessary examinations were completed. According to her, a preliminary examination was initially conducted, which confirmed DNA matching with the family. However, the family insisted on further international investigations, so this information was not officially publicized to avoid harming the process. Now, as additional investigations are underway and international experts are involved, the final version of the causes of Viktoriya Roshchina’s death will be announced, bringing law enforcement closer to uncovering the truth about the tragedy. This case remains one of the most urgent in the context of the challenges faced by Ukrainian journalism during wartime. The lack of precise data and the uncertainty surrounding her cause of death have sparked widespread outrage among colleagues and the public, who await an objective investigation and justice for this dedicated journalist who fell victim to the most brutal abuses.