KYIV – The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a powerful appeal to the international community following shocking revelations about the torture and murder of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna. A recent investigation by the Forbidden Stories consortium, involving 45 journalists across the world, exposed brutal details of her killing while in Russian captivity, including evidence of torture and missing internal organs.
Georhiy Tykhyi, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, praised the investigative team for their work, calling it a vital contribution to the pursuit of justice and the memory of a courageous journalist who dedicated her life to truth and the protection of civilians.
The ministry is urging international bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, the OSCE, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders to condemn Russia’s war crimes. Ukrainian officials are calling this a clear case of state sponsored barbarism and a direct violation of international law and human rights.
Investigators revealed that Roshchyna’s body was returned to Ukraine in February 2025, bearing signs of torture. Some internal organs were removed, likely in an attempt by the Russian forces to conceal the exact cause of death and erase evidence of their crime.
The Ukrainian government states this case highlights a far greater issue — the continued illegal detention and abuse of Ukrainian civilian hostages by Russian forces. Officials say it may be the largest state operated abduction campaign seen in modern European history. Ukraine is calling for urgent global action and accountability, warning that failure to respond would encourage further atrocities by the Kremlin.
Tykhyi stressed that Russian war criminals responsible for the murder of Viktoriya Roshchyna and similar atrocities must face justice. He called on the international community not only to condemn these acts but to ensure accountability through legal means and international cooperation.
