The body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, bore numerous signs of torture, as well as evidence of an autopsy and the absence of several internal organs.
This was reported by Yurii Bielousov, head of the War Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda. The article titled “Project Viktoriia: The Story of the Captivity and Torture Endured by Journalist Roshchyna and Thousands of Ukrainians Imprisoned by Russia” was published on Tuesday, April 29.
Roshchyna’s body showed multiple signs of torture and cruel treatment, including abrasions and bruises on various parts of her body and a broken rib. Experts also noted possible signs of electric shock being used.
“The bodily injuries were inflicted while she was still alive. Therefore, it is highly likely that Viktoriia Roshchyna was subjected to torture,” Bielousov stated.
The investigative team conducting the inquiry reported that the body was returned to Ukraine showing signs of an autopsy performed on Russian territory. Upon examination, it was found that several internal organs — including the brain, eyeballs, and part of the trachea — were missing.
An international forensic pathologist interviewed by journalists believes that the absence of these organs may indicate an attempt by the Russians to conceal that the cause of death was strangulation.
Roshchyna’s body was returned during a prisoner exchange on February 14, 2025. It was labeled as body number 757 with the notes “unidentified male individual” and “SPAS.”
However, during the initial examination, pathologists determined that the body belonged to a woman. A DNA analysis conducted by investigators from the Prosecutor General’s Office showed a 99% match with the DNA of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna.
The abbreviation “SPAS” may refer to the “official cause of death” as determined by the Russian side, and literally stands for: total damage to the heart’s arteries.
Background
Hromadske journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna filmed and wrote reports from frontline areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.
On March 11, 2022, Hromadske published a piece by Roshchyna in which she described life in the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar.
She later prepared materials covering the war in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions and had planned to travel as far as Mariupol, which was at that time under Russian siege.
Roshchyna was first captured by Russian forces in March 2022. On March 16, it became known that she had been detained, likely by operatives of Russia’s FSB. According to eyewitnesses, the journalist was in temporarily occupied Berdiansk at the time.
The Russians held the journalist for 10 days, but she was later released from captivity in the second half of March 2022. After that, she continued working as a journalist in Ukraine.
In August 2023, Viktoriia Roshchyna went missing for a second time during a trip to Russian-occupied territories.
Prior to that, on July 27, 2023, Roshchyna left Ukraine for Poland and was expected to reach the occupied territories in eastern Ukraine (via Russia) within three days. After August 3, Viktoriia stopped communicating.
Roshchyna previously worked for Hromadske, and later published her work in Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Liberty.
In 2022, she received the International Women’s Media Foundation’s “Courage in Journalism” Award.
