International Courant
BBC
Viktoriia Roshchyna was arrested final yr whereas reporting in Russian-occupied Ukraine
Viktoriia Roshchyna disappeared in August 2023 in part of Ukraine now occupied by Russian forces.
It took 9 months for Russian authorities to verify that the journalist had been detained. They gave no purpose.
This week her father obtained a brief letter from the Ministry of Protection in Moscow informing him that Victoria was lifeless on the age of 27.
The doc acknowledged that the journalist’s physique could be returned in one of many exchanges organized by Russia and Ukraine for troopers killed on the battlefield. The date of dying was given as September 19.
Once more there was no rationalization.
Wake for Viktoriia
This weekend, mates gathered to recollect Viktoriia on the Maidan in central Kiev. They shuffled into place on the steps and held her image, their younger faces smiling on the small crowd.
“She had huge braveness,” one lady started the tribute.
“We are going to miss her dearly,” mentioned one other, turning away as her eyes crammed with tears.
Viktoriia’s tales have been snapshots of life that Ukrainians could not get wherever else.
Reporting from occupied territories in Ukraine was extraordinarily harmful, however her colleagues bear in mind how determined she was to go there, even after being detained and held in custody for the primary time for ten days.
SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA
Former colleagues held a vigil in Kiev in reminiscence of Viktoriia Roshchyna
“Her mother and father at all times referred to as us and advised us to cease utilizing her, however we by no means did!” one among her former bosses recalled.
“All her editors tried to cease her. Nevertheless it was not possible.”
The younger reporter ultimately turned to freelancing to assist herself, and when she returned, newspapers would purchase her experiences.
Most strikingly, she by no means used a pseudonym, despite the fact that she wrote overtly about “occupied” territory and referred to as those that collaborated with the Russians “traitors.”
“She wished to supply details about how these cities live underneath siege by the Russian military,” Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief of Ukrayinska Pravda, advised the BBC.
“She was completely superb.”
Detention
Viktoriia’s father has beforehand described how she left by way of Poland and Russia final July on her strategy to occupied Ukraine.
It was every week earlier than she referred to as to say she had been interrogated on the border for a number of days.
All we all know for certain after that’s that in Might she was in Detention Heart No. 2 in Taganrog, southern Russia – a facility so infamous for its brutal therapy of many Ukrainians that some name it the “Russian Guantanamo.”
In keeping with the Media Initiative for Human Rights, one other Ukrainian citizen launched from Taganrog final month advised Viktoriia’s household that she had seen the journalist on September 8 or 9.
Then there was purpose for hope.
“I used to be 100% certain she could be again on September 13 this yr. My sources gave me 100% ensures,” mentioned Musaieva of Ukrayinska Pravda.
She had been advised that Viktoriia could be concerned in one of many periodic prisoner of conflict exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, scheduled for the center of final month.
“So what occurred to her in jail? Why did not she come residence?”
Sevgil Musaieva says her colleague wished to shine a lightweight on the hardships of life in cities occupied by the Russian military
Viktoriia was moved together with one other Ukrainian lady, however neither was included within the prisoner alternate.
“Meaning she was taken some other place,” mentioned Media Initiative director Tetyana Katrychenko. “They are saying to Lefortovo. Why there? We do not know.”
She says it is not widespread earlier than an alternate.
Moscow’s Lefortovo jail is run by the FSB safety service and is used for these accused of espionage and critical crimes in opposition to the state.
“Possibly they introduced her there to start out authorized proceedings or investigation.” That occurred to different civilians taken from Kherson and Melitopol,” Tetyana mentioned.
The BBC understands that Viktoriia’s father spoke to her in jail on August 30.
At one level she had declared a starvation strike, however that day her father urged her to start out consuming once more and he or she agreed.
“That must be investigated. It additionally implies that we partly blame her, and never the Russian Federation, as we must always,” Tetyana warns.
Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed Viktoriia’s dying and the Prosecutor Normal’s Workplace has modified his legal case from unlawful detention to homicide.
In Russia, Viktoriia has by no means been charged with any crime and the circumstances of her detention are unknown.
‘A citizen journalist…captured by Russia. Will Russia then ship a letter saying she has died?’ Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn advised the BBC in Kiev.
‘It is killing. Solely killing hostages. I do not know another phrase.”
Russia has not commented.
Civilian hostages
For the reason that begin of Russia’s large-scale invasion, large numbers of civilians have been deported from areas of Ukraine that Moscow has overrun and now controls.
Like Viktoriia’s household, determined family members have little or no details about their whereabouts or well-being, and no concept if they’ll ever get residence.
Up to now, the Media Initiative has collected a listing of 1,886 names.
“There are all types of individuals, together with ex-soldiers and cops and native officers like mayors,” says Tetyana.
“And naturally there may very well be many extra that we do not find out about.”
Neither legal professionals nor the Crimson Cross are given entry and even when somebody’s location could be confirmed, it’s nearly not possible to get somebody again residence: civilians are hardly ever exchanged.
Nataliya Humenyuk/Hromadske
Roshchyna’s colleague Nataliya Humenyuk mentioned in a tribute on social media that she left an excellent legacy
Viktoriia’s mates and colleagues say they won’t relaxation till they examine what occurred.
“Her life was her work,” says Angelina Karyakina, former editor at Hromadske. “It is a uncommon sort of people who find themselves so decided.”
“I am fairly certain the way in which she desires us to recollect her just isn’t by standing right here crying, however by remembering her dignity,” she says.
“And I believe it is necessary for us journalists to search out out what she was engaged on — and to complete her story.”
