The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the Russian authorities to confirm reports of the death of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who disappeared on 3 August 2023 in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine while covering the life of people under Russian occupation.

"Should her death be confirmed, we call for the immediate return of her body home so that an independent investigation into the cause and circumstances of her death could be undertaken, including an independent autopsy. If confirmed, Russian authorities would bear responsibility for the arbitrary deprivation of life in State custody," the international body said.

Roshchyna was arbitrarily detained by Russian troops in Russian-occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, without trial or investigation and without charge, and then deported to Russia.

Roshchyna was the recipient of the International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award for 2022 and was known for her independent journalism about Russia's war against Ukraine.

Human rights activists said that Roshchyna was last seen on 8 September 2024 in the Taganrog Detention Centre No. 2 in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. However, her whereabouts have remained unknown since then.

On October 10, Victoria's father received a letter from the Russian Ministry of Defense stating, without any documentary evidence, that she had died in captivity on September 19, 2024. No details were provided as to the circumstances or cause of her death.