Awarding Order of Freedom to Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna Posthumously

On August 2, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the posthumous awarding of the Order of Freedom to journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who tragically lost her life while in Russian detention. This honor, given for significant contributions to Ukraine’s sovereignty and human rights, acknowledges Roshchyna’s brave commitment to truth amid the harrowing realities of conflict. At just 27 years old, Roshchyna was recognized as one of the dedicated voices covering the Ukraine war, often operating in high-risk areas. President Zelensky stated, “Viktoria was one of those who spoke the truth about the war. She worked on the front lines and in temporarily occupied territories, risking her life,” highlighting her courage in reporting from the most dangerous zones. Roshchyna’s journey took a tragic turn when she vanished in August 2023 while reporting from areas affected by Russian occupation. Russian authorities publicly acknowledged in 2024 that she was being held in their custody. Following her death, her remains were initially misidentified and returned to Ukraine in late February 2024, labeled as those of an “unidentified man.” However, forensic analysis confirmed the identity through DNA tests. Ukrainian officials officially recognized Roshchyna's death on October 10, 2024, though they indicated that the conditions leading to her demise are still under scrutiny. Russia contends that she died on September 19, 2024. Notably, a recent media investigative effort revealed disturbing findings regarding Roshchyna's body, which was returned with vital organs missing, leading to concerns about potential attempts to conceal the circumstances of her death. According to the Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization, Roshchyna was imprisoned in two infamous Russian facilities known for human rights abuses: Penal Colony 77 located in Berdiansk, Ukraine, and Detention Center 2 in Taganrog, Russia. These institutions have a reputation for systematically employing torture against detainees. Roshchyna's ordeal included a prior detention in March 2022, where Russian federal authorities held her for ten days while she was traveling from Berdiansk toward Mariupol. During this apprehension, she was reportedly coerced into recording a video stating that Russian forces had saved her life as a condition for her release.