In connection with the information about the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna in Russia, the criminal proceedings opened over her disappearance have been reclassified as a war crime combined with premeditated murder. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
"On 10 October, the media published information about the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriya Roshchyna, who was illegally detained by the Russian Federation. In this regard, the criminal proceedings initiated over her disappearance under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine were qualified by Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder," the statement said.
The pre-trial investigation will be carried out by the Main Investigation Department of the Security Service of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office.
- On 15 March 2022, Russians kidnapped Viktoriya Roshchyna in Berdyansk, who was preparing materials on the hostilities in eastern and southern Ukraine. After that, her whereabouts were unknown for a long time. Later, pro-Russian media and telegram channels disseminated a video in which Roshchyna denied her claims against the Russian services that held her captive and said that they had allegedly saved her life. She was held for 10 days but later released.
- On 3 August 2023, Roshchyna disappeared in the temporarily occupied territory. In May 2024, Russia confirmed for the first time that it was holding her in captivity.