Ambassador of the European Union in Ukraine, Kateryna Maternova, called the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina, who was in Russian captivity, one of the most terrible pages of the ongoing war initiated by Russia
In her official post on Facebook, she emphasized that this tragedy is also a testament to the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Russian armed forces, who relentlessly destroy the lives and futures of Ukrainian citizens. "Viktoria was an exceptionally talented and brave journalist; she was only 27 years old. Her death is one of the gravest war crimes committed by Russia on our land," the diplomat stated. She added that over the two years since the start of full-scale aggression, the European Union and she personally have repeatedly encountered horrific facts of war crimes, but the case of Roshchina deeply affected her as a citizen, mother, and defender of the rights and freedoms of every Ukrainian. According to Maternova, these events once again confirm the ruthless importance of the Ukrainian people's fight for their independence and humanity under the most difficult conditions of war. The ambassador also stressed that the European Union, with deep sympathy and unwavering commitment to justice, honors the memory of Viktoria Roshchina and calls on the international community to act decisively to hold those responsible accountable. She reported that since the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, that is, since February 24, 2022, at least 102 Ukrainian journalists and media workers have been killed across the country, risking everything for truth and freedom of speech. It is also important to remember that Viktoria Roshchina’s story is not only about her disappearance and death. It is a tragedy that has become a symbol of the daily trials faced by Ukrainian citizens who have been captured and subjected to torture by Russian forces. According to investigations by independent journalist groups and human rights organizations, she disappeared on August 3, 2023, in areas in Donbas temporarily occupied by Russian troops, where she was working on reports about military actions and the humanitarian situation. The first official confirmation of her detention was received in May 2024, when the Russian Ministry of Defense, in a letter to her father, Volodymyr Roshchin, confirmed that she was held in Russian captivity. On October 9, 2024, Pavlo Yatsenko, head of the press service of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, announced the sad news during a telethon: Viktoria Roshchina died in Russian detention, and this information has been confirmed by official sources. Journalists from "Sledstvo.Info" conducted their own investigation and revealed disturbing details: the journalist was brutally tortured. According to their data, there were traces of stab wounds on her body, and she was subjected to electric shocks. Russian investigators and interrogators also tried to conceal the signs of torture, promising the prison staff either to apply further torture or to hide her body from external inspections. This again highlights the widespread and systematic violations of human rights carried out by Russia in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and in the wider world, it causes outrage and contempt for international norms and laws. Viktoria Roshchina’s tragedy has become a symbol of the ongoing suffering of Ukrainians and a call for all conscious partners to stop remaining silent and to act to hold the perpetrators accountable for war crimes.