Body of Journalist Victoria Roshchina Returned to Ukraine

The body of Victoria Roshchina, a Ukrainian journalist who went missing in territories occupied by Russia in 2023, has been repatriated to Ukraine. Her identity was confirmed through DNA testing.

This was announced by Leonid Tymchenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, in an interview with the Censor.NET publication.

Body of journalist Roshchina returned: Died in Russian captivity

“Her body was returned as part of a recent repatriation at the end of February this year, with identification conducted via DNA testing,” Tymchenko stated.

The body of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who died in Russian captivity, was returned to Ukraine at the end of February, but the identification process took time due to the need for several DNA tests.

This was reported by Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, referencing official information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

“We have official information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It can be asserted that Victoria’s body has indeed been returned,” Yurchyshyn said.

The MP emphasized that although the body was returned at the end of February, “time was needed for the tests.” “As far as I know, Victoria's father, quite logically, insisted on multiple tests both in Ukraine and abroad to ensure that this was indeed Victoria’s body,” the committee head noted. He added that the journalist's family is still awaiting final data from additional tests.

Yurchyshyn stressed that such a thorough identification process was necessary, as Russia has repeatedly used the tactic of substituting the bodies of Ukrainians it has killed.

As reported earlier, journalist Victoria Roshchina went missing in August 2023 while traveling to territories temporarily occupied by Russia. According to human rights activists, she was held in two prisons in the Russian Federation known for their particularly harsh conditions.

Death of Victoria Roshchina in Russian captivity: What is known

Victoria Roshchina worked as a journalist in the combat zone from the very beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, covering the situation at the front.

On March 16, 2022, she was first detained by Russian special services in the occupied Berdyansk. On March 22 of the same year, she was released, but before that, she was forced to record a video stating that she had no claims against the FSB of Russia.

In August 2023, Victoria Roshchina went missing again while working in the occupied territories. In September 2023, her family filed a missing person report with the relevant Ukrainian and international authorities. Only in May 2024 did Russia officially confirm to the Ukrainian side and international organizations the fact of the journalist's detention and her presence in the Russian Federation. The circumstances of her death in captivity are currently undisclosed.