By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna’s body, returned to Ukraine after death in Russian custody, showed extensive signs of torture, including abrasions, bruises, a broken rib, and possible electric shock. A Russian autopsy had removed vital organs, including the brain and eyeballs, potentially concealing evidence of strangulation or suffocation. Despite the body’s condition, a 99% DNA match confirmed her identity. The investigation has been reclassified as a war crime and premeditated murder.
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The body of Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who disappeared in Russian-occupied territory, was returned to Ukraine in February 2025, after a lengthy ordeal. The condition of the body, however, revealed a horrifying truth. Signs of torture were evident, indicating a brutal and inhumane captivity.
The Prosecutor General’s Office detailed the state of the remains, revealing the presence of stab wounds on her body. This immediately paints a disturbing picture of the violence she endured before her death. The physical trauma suggests a deliberate and prolonged period of suffering inflicted upon her by her captors.
Further examination uncovered a more sinister discovery: several of her internal organs were missing. The absence of vital organs like the brain, eyeballs, and a portion of the trachea is deeply unsettling. The methodical removal of these specific organs points to a deliberate act, going beyond simple post-mortem examination.
This missing organ detail strongly suggests a deliberate attempt to obscure the cause of death and hinder any thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her demise. The meticulous nature of the organ removal also raises serious questions about potential motives beyond simply concealing the evidence of foul play.
The body itself was initially misidentified as male. It was labeled “757” with the notation “unidentified male” and the abbreviation “СПАС,” which, in a chilling twist, the Prosecutor General’s Office clarified might be the Russian code for “cumulative damage to the arteries of the heart,” suggesting a fabricated cause of death.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the advanced state of mummification complicated forensic efforts to pinpoint the exact cause of death. This severe decomposition prevented a definitive conclusion, a frustrating hurdle in the pursuit of justice. Despite the challenges posed by the body’s condition, DNA analysis yielded a 99% match with Viktoriia Roshchyna, confirming her identity.
The reclassification of the criminal proceedings from a missing person case to a war crime coupled with premeditated murder underscores the gravity of the situation. It indicates a definitive conclusion by the Ukrainian authorities that her death was not accidental but rather a deliberate act of violence committed in the context of the ongoing conflict.
The timeline itself is equally chilling. Roshchyna initially left Ukraine for Poland with the intention of entering the occupied territories via Russia. Her disappearance on August 3rd, 2023, while reporting from the territory, marked the start of a desperate search for answers.
Russia’s belated admission in May 2024 that they had detained Roshchyna offers a crucial piece of the puzzle. The confirmation from the Russian Ministry of Defence, however, falls far short of providing a satisfactory explanation for her subsequent death.
The eventual news of her death in October 2024 and the later body exchange only deepened the mystery surrounding the circumstances of her demise. The delay between her death and the return of her remains raises serious concerns about the Russian authorities’ motivations and the possibility of further efforts to cover up what transpired.
The deliberate mutilation of the body, combined with the fabricated cause of death and the mislabeling, paints a picture of calculated cruelty and an organized attempt to obfuscate the truth. It points to a horrific systemic problem within the Russian system that goes well beyond the individual perpetrators involved in her death.
The case of Viktoriia Roshchyna serves as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of war and the lengths to which some will go to silence dissenting voices. The horrific details of her death, coupled with the calculated attempts to hide the truth, call for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. The international community needs to put pressure on Russia to face the consequences of these appalling actions and to work toward achieving justice for Viktoriia Roshchyna and countless others who have suffered similar fates. The absence of significant repercussions serves as a stark warning of a potentially permissive environment where such atrocities might be repeated.