The Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roschyna, known for her work with Radio Free Europe and other media outlets, suffered a skull fracture while being held at a detention facility in Taganrog, Russia. This information was disclosed during a session of a temporary investigative commission on crimes against media, held on May 26 by Dmitro Shevchuk from the National Police of Ukraine.
Shevchuk reported that Roschyna sustained severe bodily harm, specifically a fracture of the occipital bone, as confirmed by forensic examinations. He detailed that she experienced systematic abuse, including beatings, psychological pressure, unsanitary living conditions, and restrictions on food and water, which were reportedly a result of her refusal to cooperate with authorities, learn the Russian national anthem, and demand basic living conditions, including medical assistance and adequate food.
The investigation has established the routes of Roschyna’s movements, the locations of her unlawful detention, and the individuals involved in her mistreatment, as well as the circumstances leading to her death.
Additionally, it was revealed that Roschyna had rented an apartment in Enerhodar, which may have been equipped with surveillance devices. Authorities are exploring the possibility that she was under observation from the moment she crossed into Russian territory.
In April, the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that, according to witnesses, Russian prison officials failed to provide Roschyna with critical medical care in her final days.
In October 2024, it was confirmed that Roschyna, who had gone missing during a trip to occupied territories, died in Russian custody. Reports later indicated that she passed away in a detention center in Kizel, located in the Perm region of Russia, on September 19, 2024, after being held unlawfully for over a year. She had been transferred to Kizel just eight days before her death.
Viktoriya Roschyna, a Ukrainian journalist, faced severe abuse in Russian detention, resulting in a fatal skull fracture. Investigations reveal systematic mistreatment and lack of medical care leading to her death in September 2024.