The remains of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna were identified after a soldier remains swap in February. Body bag number 757, which contained her remains, was mislabelled as an unnamed male. Inside, a tag read "Roshchyna, V.V.,” leading to the painful realization that it was indeed the body of the 27-year-old journalist who had been detained in Russian-occupied territory.

Viktoria's former editor, Sevgil Musayeva, described the condition of the body upon its return. "When her body was returned to Ukraine, it was so terribly mutilated that it was unrecognizable," she said. Musayeva recounted that witnesses reported Viktoria was brutally tortured while imprisoned in Russia. "The Russians returned her body without internal organs, without a brain, without eyeballs, and without the trachea. They were trying to erase the evidence, they were trying to erase her," she added. The body weighed only 30 kilograms.

Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Viktoria had been a dedicated freelance journalist, contributing to various outlets including Ukrainian Radio and Hromadske. Musayeva praised her commitment, stating, "She was obsessed with journalism. For her, it was a mission to cover people in the occupied territories."

Viktoria was first arrested in March 2022 while reporting in southeastern Ukraine but was released after ten days. She was captured again in August 2023 while in the Russian-occupied part of Zaporizhzhia. Her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn, expressed the family's anguish during her absence. "On August 15, she stopped contacting me, so we started searching for her everywhere," he said. After months of uncertainty, he received a letter from the Russian defense ministry confirming her detention.

In April 2024, he finally heard her voice during a phone call, where she was urged to end a hunger strike in exchange for her release. However, the agreement was not honored, and he later received notification of her death on September 19. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that the Kremlin had no information regarding her fate.

Investigations into her treatment while in custody revealed that Viktoria was moved between several detention centers known for torture. Her father reported that she was transferred deep into Russia after her health stabilized. "Vika was banging on the cell doors of all her cells, demanding investigators and justice," he said. Reports from her cellmates indicated she suffered severe mistreatment, including being stabbed and electrocuted.

In April, Ukraine's prosecutor general confirmed through DNA testing that the remains in the body bag were indeed those of Viktoria Roshchyna. Her father expressed his desire for accountability, stating he wants those responsible for her treatment to be held accountable. Musayeva emphasized the need for an investigation into the evidence of torture, saying, "When we started to investigate Viktoria's last journey, we listened to all these stories about torture, about beatings, about physical pressure on people."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored Viktoria posthumously with the Order of Freedom, recognizing her commitment to journalism. The International Press Institute also awarded her the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero Award, highlighting her sacrifice for the truth. Scott Griffen, the Executive Director of the IPI, noted, "Viktoria is someone who paid the ultimate price for her courageous investigative work on the Russian occupation of Ukraine."

Viktoria's father expressed pride in his daughter, stating, "Her name is a symbol of strength, resilience, and bravery." Her legacy continues to inspire those who fight for freedom of the press and human rights in Ukraine and beyond.