Wed Apr 30 16:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Ukrainian Journalist’s Body Returned From Russia Showing Signs of Torture
**Kyiv, Ukraine** – The body of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna, who disappeared during a reporting trip to Russian-occupied territory in August 2023, has been returned to Ukraine showing evidence of torture, Ukrainian prosecutors announced. The 27-year-old’s remains were part of a prisoner exchange in February.
A forensic examination revealed “numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment,” including abrasions, hemorrhages, a broken rib, and potential electric shock injuries sustained while she was alive, according to Yuriy Belousov, head of the war crimes department at the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office. The body, initially misidentified by Russia as an “unidentified male,” was confirmed to be Roshchyna’s through DNA analysis. While the exact cause of death remains undetermined due to the body’s condition, Ukrainian authorities are collaborating with international forensic experts.
Adding to the grim findings, Roshchyna’s colleagues at Ukrainska Pravda reported that vital organs, including her brain, eyeballs, and part of her trachea, were missing. This raises concerns about a potential attempt to conceal the cause of death.
Roshchyna’s disappearance was first reported by her father in August 2023 after she stopped communicating while on assignment in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Her family remained unaware of her location until nine months later, when Moscow confirmed her detention. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War stated that Roshchyna died during a transfer from a Taganrog detention facility, known for its brutal treatment of detainees.
Colleagues described Roshchyna as a dedicated journalist who prioritized her work, even in dangerous situations. Her death has prompted an investigation involving international media outlets to piece together the details of her captivity and demise. CNN has reached out to Russian authorities for comment but has yet to receive a response. The Ukrainian government has condemned Russia’s actions and vowed to pursue justice.
First Piper 