President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on social media that journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, has been posthumously awarded the Order of Freedom.
According to the President, in October 2024, Ukraine learned of the tragic and unjust death of Roshchyna, who had been on the prisoner exchange list. Russia had committed to releasing her but failed to keep its word. In February 2025, her body, bearing multiple signs of torture, was returned to Ukraine. Since then, all necessary forensic examinations have been conducted.
Zelenskiy emphasized that Viktoria Roshchyna 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.
“Today we honor Viktoria Roshchyna posthumously. She has been awarded the Order of Freedom for her unwavering belief that freedom will prevail over everything. Our respect and bright memory to Viktoria Roshchyna,” Zelenskiy wrote.
In April this year, it became known that journalist Viktoria Roshchina, who had spent more than a year in Russian captivity, had been returned to Ukraine with her internal organs removed. Roshchina disappeared on 3 August 2023 in the occupied territory, where she had gone on a journalistic mission. Almost a year later, in May 2024, Russia acknowledged her detention. In October, it became known that she had died in Russian captivity.