The body of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschina, who died in Russian captivity, was returned to Ukraine in February 2025. This was reported by the head of the War Department of the Office of the Prosecutor General, Yuriy Belyusov, during a briefing on April 24. According to him, after examination on February 28, the body was identified using molecular expertise, which confirmed her surname based on the tag on the body.
This is reported by Kyiv24
However, due to the complex condition of the body, changes in its structure, and mummification, it is currently impossible to determine the exact causes of death.
“Due to the condition of the body, changes, and mummification, the forensic medical examination was unable to establish the causes of death. Therefore, samples were taken, and the issue is currently being resolved with the participation of French experts for conducting additional forensic medical examinations to determine the causes of death,”
Belyusov explained.
Capture and Torture of Victoria Roschina
According to him, numerous signs of violence were found on Roschina’s body, including abrasions, bruising, and a broken rib. Experts also noted possible signs of electric shock. This information will be clarified during the additional forensic medical examination, which will be conducted jointly with French specialists.
Belyusov added that Victoria sustained bodily injuries while still alive, so there is a high probability that she was tortured. Information regarding the exact causes of death and the individuals involved in her actions is currently being established.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Leonid Tymchenko reported that Roschina’s body had been returned to the Ukrainian side. In 2024, Coordination Headquarters employee Petro Yatsenko reported that the journalist died in Russian captivity after being detained in March 2022 while covering events in temporarily occupied territories. After her first detention, she was released on the condition of recording a video address in which she denied allegations against the Russian military.
In July 2023, Victoria went again to the occupied territories, and on August 3, 2023, she stopped communicating with her family. According to her father, she left Ukraine for Poland on July 27 and was supposed to reach the occupied territories through Russia. The family received confirmation from the Ukrainian Security Service about her capture by Russian forces.
Victoria Roschina was the author of several reports for Radio Free Europe and collaborated with various Ukrainian media, including “Ukrainska Pravda,” hromadske, “Ukrainian Radio,” “UA:Pershyi,” and “Tsenzor.net.” Her work and reports focused on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.