Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roshchyna Dies in Russian Detention
Victoria Roshchyna, a journalist from Ukraine, tragically passed away while in Russian detention last month. Ukrainian authorities announced her death this week. Roshchyna disappeared during a reporting trip in a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine in August last year. It wasn’t until April this year that Russian authorities informed her family of her detention and subsequent death.
Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed receiving official documentation from Russia about Roshchyna’s death. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office is investigating her death as a war crime and premeditated murder.
Currently, around 25 Ukrainian journalists are reportedly held in Russian custody, with others missing. Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Centre for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, highlighted this issue. Ukrainian authorities estimate that 14,000 Ukrainian civilians are detained in Russia, some since the conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
Roshchyna reportedly died during a transfer from a prison in Taganrog, southern Russia, to Moscow, according to Russian authorities.
Doubts Revealed
Ukrainian Journalist -: A journalist from Ukraine, which is a country in Eastern Europe. Journalists report news and information to the public.
Russian Detention -: Being held or imprisoned by Russian authorities. Detention means being kept in custody, usually by the police or military.
War Crime -: Serious violations of the laws of war that cause unnecessary suffering, like harming civilians or prisoners. These are judged by international laws.
Premeditated Murder -: A murder that was planned or thought about before it happened. It means the person intended to kill someone.
Taganrog -: A city in Russia, located near the Sea of Azov. It is part of the route mentioned in the journalist’s transfer.
Moscow -: The capital city of Russia, which is a large country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia.
2014 Conflict -: Refers to the conflict that began in 2014 between Ukraine and Russia, involving the annexation of Crimea by Russia and fighting in Eastern Ukraine.
