“The investigation proved it was murder”: TSK released new details of the death of journalist Viktoriya Roshchina

The Temporary Investigative Commission of the Verkhovna Rada on the Investigation of Crimes of the Russian Federation against Journalists has published new details of the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchina. During the meeting, representatives of law enforcement agencies stated that the investigation has established that this is not a case of death in captivity, but of the deliberate murder of the journalist by the Russian side.

“Russia uses violence against journalists as an element of war”

The head of the Temporary Investigative Commission, People’s Deputy Yevgenia Kravchuk, emphasized that Russia continues to systematically commit crimes against media representatives.

According to her, the creation of the so-called “Roshchina list” is already being discussed at the international level — a sanctions mechanism for persons involved in the torture and murder of Ukrainian journalists.

First Deputy Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, Serhiy Panteleyev, stated that the investigation has already established the circumstances and perpetrators of the crime.

“The investigation has proven Victoria’s murder. Not death, but murder,” he emphasized.

Torture, beatings, and detention in inhumane conditions

According to the investigation, Roshchina was captured on August 4, 2023 in occupied Energodar, where she went to document Russian war crimes and places of illegal detention of Ukrainians. At first, the journalist was held in a captured police station, and later transported to occupied Melitopol.

Law enforcement officials reported that it was there that she was subjected to severe torture. In particular, the journalist had cuts on her limbs. Later, Roshchina was transferred to Taganrog, Russia, where she was held in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in unsanitary conditions, systematically beaten, and psychologically abused for refusing to cooperate with the administration and learn the Russian anthem.

During the forensic examination, a fracture of the occipital bone was also found.

Death in a Russian pre-trial detention center

Later, the journalist was transferred to pre-trial detention center No. 3 in the city of Kizel, Perm Krai, Russia. According to investigators, at that time she was in critical condition, could not move independently and repeatedly lost consciousness. Despite this, physical and psychological violence continued to be used against her.

On September 19, 2024, Viktoriya Roshchina died in a Russian pre-trial detention center. The investigation established that at that time the duties of the head of the institution were performed by Vyacheslav Perevozkin, who, according to the National Police, organized a system of cruel treatment of prisoners and received instructions from the FSB.

Russia concealed the circumstances of her death

The representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Petro Yatsenko, reported that Roshchina was being prepared for an exchange, but her return was delayed due to her critical health. The journalist did not live to see the next exchange.

Russia returned the body of Victoria Roshchina to Ukraine only in February 2025. Human rights activists previously suggested that the Russian side deliberately delayed the transfer of the body in order to hide the traces of torture.