The Mysterious Death of Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roshyna in a Russian Detention Facility
On September 20, 2024, a disturbing piece of news shocked the public: Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshyna died while in custody at the Kizel detention center in Perm Krai, Russia.
This unexpected death caught many by surprise, as earlier reports indicated that Roshyna had been detained by Russian authorities on occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Taganrog, and her whereabouts remained unknown until now.
According to investigative reports by ‘Slidstvo.info,’ authorities obtained documents confirming her death.
Official records list her date of death as September 19, 2024, registered at the Civil Registry Office in Perm.
This document became one of the key pieces of evidence confirming her passing.
Taras Semkiv, head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in Armed Conflicts under the General Prosecutor’s Office, stated that Victoria’s death occurred directly within the Kizel detention facility.
He added that the investigation is ongoing to establish the exact causes, as her body was returned to Ukraine in a state that prevented a comprehensive forensic examination.
Semkiv explained, ‘She was there for less than two weeks, and her death took place precisely in this facility.’ Witness testimonies further shed light on these tragic events.
A former prisoner, Danylo, who was being transported with Victoria to Kizel, recounts that on September 11, 2024—eight days before her death—they were moved from Taganrog detention center to the Kizel facility.
The transfer lasted three days, and Danylo observed that Victoria was very thin, just bones.
During the intake process on September 11, prisoners were subjected to brutal abuse and torture.
Danylo recalls being beaten multiple times, almost losing consciousness, and hearing women crying as they were shaved bald.
Prosecutor Taras Semkiv emphasized that throughout her detention, starting from August 2023, Russia never officially acknowledged holding Victoria in any detention facilities.
Her case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing violations of human rights under Russian occupation, illustrating the grim realities faced by detainees.Victoria’s troubling history dates back to March 2022, when she was captured by Russian forces in Berdyansk and held for ten days.
She was an active journalist covering the war and the occupation, reporting from Crimea, Donbas, and Mariupol.
She initially traveled from Ukraine to Poland intending to reach liberated areas but disappeared on August 3, 2023, from the occupied territories.
Russia finally admitted to her detention in May 2024, and the body was repatriated only in February 2025, bearing signs of brutal violence, including bruises, fractures, and evidence of torture.
Forensic experts suggested that significant organs—such as the brain and eyes—were missing, possibly to conceal the cause of death.
The international community and Ukrainian authorities mourn her loss and call for justice.
A farewell ceremony was held in Kyiv on August 8, 2024.
Victoria’s story remains a symbol of the continuous struggle for press freedom, human rights, and justice in the face of Russia’s brutal targeted repression against Ukrainian journalists and civilians.