Her Brain Was Removed, Bones Broken, and Body Mutilated: The Horrific Death of Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning

Why: The reporting focuses on human rights violations, press freedom, and accountability for war crimes—topics typically emphasized by left-leaning outlets.

What We Know

Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, 27, died in Russian captivity after being detained in August 2023 while reporting from occupied territories in southeastern Ukraine. Her death was not publicly confirmed by Russian authorities until months later. When her body was returned in February 2025, it showed signs of extensive torture and mutilation.

Ukrainian investigators have opened a war crimes investigation into her death, pointing to forensic evidence that suggests a deliberate attempt to conceal the manner in which she was killed.

The Journalist and Her Mission

Roshchyna was a known freelance journalist who often reported from the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. She had been previously recognized for her bravery in covering conflict zones, frequently traveling into areas under Russian control.

In August 2023, she entered Russian-occupied southeastern Ukraine to continue her reporting. Shortly after, she went missing. Russian officials eventually admitted in May 2024 that she was in their custody but gave little information about her condition or location.

Torture, Secrecy, and a Concealed Death

In October 2024, Russian authorities informed Roshchyna’s family that she had died on September 19 while being transferred between detention centers. Her body, however, was not returned until February 2025—and it came with a false identity label, listed as an “unidentified male.”

When Ukrainian forensic examiners inspected the body, they found horrifying signs of torture. Her rib was broken. Her neck had sustained injuries consistent with strangulation. Electrical burns were also present, indicating the use of electrocution. Most disturbingly, her brain, both eyes, and parts of her trachea were missing—likely removed to obscure evidence of how she died.

Investigators believe she may have been suffocated, but the mutilation of key body parts has made a definitive ruling difficult.

Where She Was Held

Reports suggest Roshchyna was first imprisoned in Penal Colony No. 7 in Berdyansk before being moved to a pre-trial detention center in Taganrog, Russia. Both facilities have a reputation for severe conditions and mistreatment, particularly of Ukrainians and independent journalists.

Testimonies from other detainees and human rights groups indicate that both locations have been used to interrogate and silence individuals seen as politically threatening to Russian interests.

Ukraine and International Response

Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has described her death as an “execution-style killing” and classified it as a war crime. President Zelensky’s government has demanded accountability, and Ukrainian prosecutors are continuing forensic analysis and gathering documentation to bring the case before international courts.

Human rights organizations and journalism advocacy groups, including Reporters Without Borders, have also condemned the killing, calling it part of a broader campaign to silence the press and intimidate those reporting from occupied regions.

The Bigger Picture

Roshchyna's death is not an isolated event. According to Ukrainian officials and multiple rights groups, thousands of Ukrainian civilians remain in Russian custody—often without due process. Reports of beatings, torture, disappearances, and psychological abuse are frequent, and few detainees return.

Her case has become a symbol of the extreme risks journalists face when covering wars, and of the brutal conditions that persist in Russian-controlled detention facilities.