Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, became one of the laureates of the "Hero of Press Freedom" award from the International Press Institute (IPI).
This is stated on the instituteʼs website.
The award is presented annually by IPI in partnership with the International Media Support Organization (IMS). It recognizes journalists who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to press freedom.
“Roshchyna’s death in Russian captivity on September 19, 2024, exposed the ill-treatment suffered by dozens of Ukrainian journalists unjustly held by the Russian authorities, and brought with new urgency the need to protect the press and ensure accountability for attacks on journalists. In naming Roshchyna a Press Freedom Hero, IPI and IMS recognize her enormous personal sacrifice in her pursuit of information and stories that need to be told,” the organizers said in a statement.
In addition to Victoria Roshchyna, 6 journalists received awards this year:
- Mzia Amaglobeli (Georgia);
- Martin Baron (USA);
- Mariam Abu Dagga — posthumously (Palestine);
- Gustavo Gorriti (Peru);
- Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong);
- Tesfalem Valdez (Ethiopia).
The awards will be presented on October 24 at the IPI World Congress, dedicated to the organizationʼs 75th anniversary.
The capture and death of Viktoria Roshchyna
Viktoria Roshchyna was first captured by the Russians in March 2022. She was traveling from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol, but ended up in occupied Berdyansk, where she was held for 10 days. There, the journalist was forced to record a video saying that she did not blame Russia.
A year later, on August 3, 2023, Roshchyna disappeared in the temporarily occupied territories from where she was supposed to report. After August 3, Victoria did not get in touch. In May 2024, Russia confirmed that it was again holding her captive.
On October 10, it became known that Roshchyna died during a transfer from Taganrog to Moscow. The cause of her death and when it happened were not reported.
The GUR representative Andriy Yusov told Babel that Ukraine already had agreements on Roshchynaʼs return home, and she was supposed to return to Ukraine in the near future.
On October 11, the Prosecutor Generalʼs Office further qualified the criminal proceedings opened into her disappearance, adding Part 2 of Article 438 of the countryʼs Criminal Code — violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder.
Roshchynaʼs body was returned to Ukraine in late February 2025. She was identified through DNA testing. According to the Prosecutor Generalʼs Office, numerous signs of torture and ill-treatment were found on the journalistʼs body. Due to the condition of the body, it was not possible to determine the cause of death.
The international organization Forbidden Stories found out that the journalistʼs body was returned without some internal organs. Presumably, they wanted to hide the cause of her death.
Later, the Prosecutor Generalʼs Office reported that they found numerous injuries on the journalistʼs body — bone fractures, hemorrhages in various parts of the body, a broken rib.
On August 8, Kyiv made farewell to the journalist.
For more news and in-depth stories from Ukraine, please follow us on X.