Body of Ukrainian Journalist Returned from Russian Custody Shows Signs of Torture and Organ Removal, Kyiv Says

The body of a young Ukrainian woman, journalist Victoria Roshchyna, who died while being held by Russian forces, was returned to Ukraine with signs of torture, according to Ukrainian officials.

She had gone missing during a reporting trip and was held without any contact for several months. Her body was returned to Ukraine in February during a body exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

Yuriy Belousov, head of the war crimes unit in Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, said a medical examination showed many signs of abuse. These included bruises, scrapes, a broken rib, and possible marks from electric shocks.

Experts said that the injuries on Victoria Roshchyna’s body happened while she was still alive.

Russia has previously been accused of using electric shocks to torture Ukrainian prisoners. CNN has reported on this in the past.

Yuriy Belousov, from Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, said that several DNA tests confirmed the body was Roshchyna’s, even though it arrived from Russia labeled as “an unidentified male.” Because of the condition of the body, the exact cause of her death could not be found. However, Ukraine is now working with international experts to learn more.

Her colleagues at Ukrainska Pravda said that some organs were missing when her body was returned. According to the team that examined her remains, her brain, eyes, and part of her windpipe were gone. They believe this might have been done to hide how she died.

CNN has asked Russian officials for a response, but no reply has been received yet.

Held in a harsh Russian prison

Victoria Roshchyna went missing in August 2023. Her coworkers said she had traveled to a part of Ukraine controlled by Russia—a very risky place for any Ukrainian—to report on how people were living under occupation.

Journalist Evgeniya Motorevskaya, who worked with Roshchyna at the Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske, said she was deeply committed to her work.

“For Vika, journalism was everything. She was always present where major events were happening in Ukraine. She would have continued this work for many years, but the Russians killed her,” Motorevskaya said in a statement when her death was first made public.

Roshchyna's father grew worried when she stopped replying to messages during her trip. Her family didn’t know what had happened to her until nine months later—when Russia finally confirmed she was being held in detention.

Like many other Ukrainian civilians, Roshchyna was taken by Russian forces in occupied Ukraine and sent to Russia, where she was held without any official charges or trial.

By September 2024, Victoria Roshchyna—a healthy 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist—had died in Russian custody. Her family didn’t know until about a month later, when they received an official message from Russia.

Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Coordination Center for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said in October that Roshchyna died during a transfer from a prison in Taganrog, a city in southern Russia, to Moscow. He explained that she was being moved in preparation for a possible prisoner exchange.

The prison in Taganrog is known for its cruel conditions. Former detainees have told CNN about beatings, psychological torture, very little food, and no medical care while being held there.

After news of her death, Ukrainska Pravda joined forces with more than a dozen international journalists to investigate what happened to her.

They interviewed former prisoners, guards, and human rights activists. Through their work, they were able to track her movements and reveal the severe abuse she likely faced during her final months in Russian detention.

Journalist Tortured and Had Organs Removed While in Russian Custody, Report Says

Viktoriia Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist, was captured after traveling to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region in eastern Ukraine, according to a joint investigation by Ukrainian and international media outlets.

Ukrainian Journalist Tortured, Killed, and Returned Without Organs, Report Says

A Ukrainian journalist was tortured, killed, and returned without several organs by her Russian captors, according to a new report from international media organizations.

Viktoriia Roshchyna, 27, was taken by Russian forces in 2023 after she traveled to the occupied Zaporizhzhia region in eastern Ukraine. She had gone there to report on the illegal arrest and torture of Ukrainians by Russian troops, according to a joint investigation released Tuesday by Forbidden Stories and 12 global news outlets.

Last week, Yuriy Belousov, head of the War Crimes Unit at Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, said a forensic exam of her body found clear signs of torture. These included bruises, internal bleeding, a broken rib, injuries to her neck, and possible electric shock marks on her feet.

Belousov also said there were signs an autopsy had been performed before her body was returned. Some organs were missing, which he suggested could mean Russia tried to hide the real cause of her death—possibly to cover up a war crime.

NBC News noted it has not independently verified these claims and is seeking comment from Russia’s Ministry of Defense, security services, and prison authorities.

Viktoriia Roshchyna was the first Ukrainian journalist known to have died while in Russian custody. She worked for several independent news outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda and Radio Free Europe.

“Viktoriia was the only journalist who regularly reported from occupied territories. For her, it was a mission,” said Sevgil Musaieva, her editor at Ukrainska Pravda, in an interview with Forbidden Stories. Roshchyna had continued reporting from Russian-occupied areas after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

In April 2024, almost eight months after she disappeared, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that it had captured and detained her in eastern Ukraine.

According to the Forbidden Stories report, Russian authorities later sent a letter to her parents stating that Viktoriia had died on September 19, 2024, while being moved from the city of Taganrog to Moscow.

Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna died while in Russian custody and showed clear signs of torture, with some of her organs missing when her body was returned, according to a joint media investigation released Tuesday by Forbidden Stories, a nonprofit news organization.

In February, Russia handed over her body to Ukraine. It was severely underweight and showed evidence of abuse. Some organs were missing—possibly removed to hide signs of further torture, according to the report. The investigation was conducted by several media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, Ukrainska Pravda, and iStories, citing findings from Ukrainian prosecutors.

Prosecutors said a forensic examination revealed serious injuries, including a broken rib, injuries to the neck, and possible electric shock marks on her feet, as confirmed by Yuriy Belousov, head of the War Crimes Unit in Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office.

Although DNA testing confirmed the body belonged to Roshchyna, her father has expressed doubts and has requested additional forensic analysis to be sure.

Ukrainian journalists rarely travel to Russian-occupied areas because it is extremely dangerous. Viktoriia Roshchyna is the first confirmed Ukrainian journalist to die while being held by Russian forces.

Following the release of the investigation into her death, Ukraine called for a strong international response. “The issue of civilian hostages abducted and held by Russia needs more global attention and immediate action,” said Georgiy Tykhy, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.

Human rights groups and media reports say that thousands of Ukrainian civilians are currently being held in Russian prisons or occupied areas. Many of them are reportedly tortured and denied the right to communicate with the outside world. In 2023, BBC Russia reported that these detainees—including journalists—were often held without any formal charges or access to legal help.

Who was Viktoriia Roshchyna?

Viktoriia Roshchyna was a freelance Ukrainian journalist who reported for several independent media outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda. She also worked with the Ukrainian service of the U.S.-funded media organization Radio Free Europe.

In March 2022, she was detained by Russian forces for 10 days while reporting from southeastern Ukraine, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Later that year, she received the Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation for her brave work covering the war in eastern Ukraine.

“Victoria’s death is not only the loss of a brave woman, but also the loss of a fearless journalist who risked everything to report the truth,” said the group in a statement following her passing. “No matter the official cause of death, it is clear that her life was taken because she had the courage to speak out. We hope her death will not be ignored—the global community must hold Russia accountable and demand an end to the targeting of journalists and attacks on press freedom.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also strongly condemned Russia for her death.

“The responsibility lies with the Russian authorities, who detained her simply for reporting on the war,” said CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Both Ukrainian and Russian officials must fully investigate what happened to Viktoriia Roshchyna.