The body of journalist Viktoria Roshchina, who was tortured by Russians while in captivity, was returned to Ukraine at the end of February. As it became known, the body was missing some organs.
This is stated in an investigation by Forbidden Stories.
The process of identifying the body began on February 28, 2025, when a tag with the surname “Roschina” was found during an examination of bodies in one of the morgues. Molecular analysis confirmed the identity of the deceased. However, the journalist’s family does not consider the DNA test results to be conclusive and is awaiting the results of additional tests.
According to the Forbidden Stories investigation, the body was returned during the exchange of 757 deceased Ukrainian defenders. The body was lighter and smaller than the rest and had the inscription “NM SPAS 757” — “unidentified male with significant damage to the coronary arteries (body number) 757.”
It appears that the bag was incorrectly labeled, as the body was female. Investigators found a tag on the right shin with the inscription “Roshchina, V.V.”
According to Yuriy Belousov, head of the War Department of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the body was returned with signs of an autopsy performed before arrival in Ukraine and missing some organs. This may indicate an attempt to conceal the cause of death and may be classified as a war crime.
“Vika’s body was returned with several body parts missing, including parts of the brain, larynx, and eyeballs, consistent with a possible attempt to conceal the cause of death,” the investigation said.
According to a source close to the official investigation, the bruise on her neck could be a sign of a broken hyoid bone, which is usually associated with strangulation. However, Ukrainian investigators have so far refrained from making any official conclusions about the cause of death.
According to several sources, Viktoria was taken out of her cell on September 8, almost two weeks before the official date of death. But neither the prosecutor’s office nor Forbidden Stories journalists have been able to figure out what exactly happened during that time.
Volodymyr Roshchin, Viktoria’s father, still refuses to believe that his daughter is dead. He and his wife are still waiting for additional forensic tests, which were ordered a few days before this article was published.
“I still don’t know what happened to her and why she was not included in the exchange on September 13, 2024. All this time, my family has been supporting me, we are praying for Vika and believe that everything will be fine,” the man said.
