New examination shows that journalist Roshchina had a neck injury and bone fractures

The cause of death of the Ukrainian journalist has not yet been established due to the condition of the body – there are pronounced cadaveric changes

A new forensic medical examination of the body of journalist Victoria Roshchina, who died in russian captivity, revealed a number of injuries that were not previously reported. This was revealed in the response of the Prosecutor General’s Office to a request from LIGA.net.

The examination was conducted on July 9 by the Main Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Ministry of Health.

It found that Roshchina had a neck injury, bone fractures, hemorrhages in the soft tissues of the temporal region, right shoulder, and lower legs, and an abrasion on her left foot.

The previous examination indicated hemorrhages in various parts of the body and a broken rib.

Despite additional data, it has not yet been possible to establish the cause of the journalist’s death.

“At the time of the examination, Roshchina‘s body is in a state of pronounced cadaveric changes with a violation of the tissue structure, which does not allow us to establish the cause of death and link it to bodily injuries,” said Mariana Hayovska-Kovbasiuk, the head of the Information Policy and Communications Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

She added that the body was transferred to Ukraine in a state of “deep freezing with signs of mummification and decay.”

According to Hayovska-Kovbasiuk, there are no results yet from the study of biological samples previously taken from Roshchina‘s body by French experts.

Another examination is underway in Ukraine – a forensic medical examination.

As part of the case of the illegal detention and murder of a Ukrainian journalist in russia, the National Police questioned a number of witnesses about the circumstances of Roshchina‘s stay in places of detention in russia, in particular in Pre-Trial Detention Center 2 in the city of Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, and Pre-Trial Detention Center 3 in the city of Kizel, Perm Krai.

Measures are being taken to identify the persons involved in her torture and murder. The sanction of the article under which the case was opened (cruel treatment of civilians, which led to the death of a person) provides for life imprisonment.

Roshchina disappeared on August 3, 2023, in the occupied Ukrainian territory. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), and then the russian side, confirmed that the journalist was captured by the russians. On October 10, 2024, the Coordination Headquarters confirmed the death of the 27-year-old journalist in russia. On October 11, an investigation into Roshchina‘s death in russian captivity was launched. On April 24, 2025, it became known that the journalist’s body had been returned to Ukraine. The PGO reported that Roshchina‘s body showed numerous signs of torture.

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A farewell to Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who died in russian captivity, will be held in Kyiv on August 8, 2025.

The farewell will begin with a service at St. Michael’s Cathedral at noon.

A brief civil ceremony will be held on Independence Square at 1:00 p.m., followed by a burial at 2:00 p.m. at the Baikove Cemetery.