The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) has learned that Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian freelance journalist and 2022 Courage in Journalism Award winner, has gone missing. We are extremely concerned for her safety and urge international attention on this situation.
Roshchyna disappeared on August 3, 2023, from a Russia-occupied territory from which she was reporting. She has not been heard from since.
Roshchyna has been on the frontlines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, publishing work in independent media outlets including Ukrayinska Pravda, Hromadske and Radio Free Europe.
Throughout her nearly decade-long journalism career, she has covered complex — and often dangerous — topics including crime, courts and human rights.
Roshchyna was previously captured by Russian forces in March 2022 and was held for 10 days in Berdyansk.
Russia’s systemic censorship of free speech cannot go overlooked or unchecked. Free, independent journalism is essential to informing the global public of the realities of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
We ask our peers in the human rights and press freedom space to join our demand for information on Roshchyna’s whereabouts and stand with journalists continuing to bring truth to light amid Russia’s invasion.
