'Barbarism': Ukraine's MFA demands global response to killing of journalist in Russian captivity
Photo: Viktoriia Roshchyna (Getty Images)
The killing of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in Russian captivity requires a response from the international community. This is an act of barbarism by the Russians, states Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi on Twitter (X).
Tykhyi commented on the investigation into Roshchyna’s killing, conducted by the Forbidden Stories organization.
"We urge the international community to respond to the findings of this investigation, which reveal systemic war crimes, human rights violations, abduction, torture, and murder in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia," he emphasized.
He specifically appealed for a response from the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and several human rights organizations.
According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Roshchyna’s courage, dedication to journalism, and sincere care for human life were exceptional.
"This collaborative journalistic work (referring to the investigation – ed.) emphasizes her heroism and the barbarism of her murder by the Russians, while also expanding her efforts to expose the horrific fate of thousands of civilian hostages held by Russia," he added.
Tykhyi stressed that the issue of civilians in Russian captivity demands heightened attention and an immediate, resolute response.
"Because what we are seeing right now is most likely the largest state-led civilian abduction operation in recent memory. This has to be condemned and prosecuted. Russian criminals responsible for these horrific atrocities must be held accountable," he said.
Killing of Roshchyna
On April 24, it became known that the body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna had been returned to Ukraine. She was killed while in Russian captivity. The exact cause of her death has not yet been determined.
Today, Ukrainska Pravda and Forbidden Stories published an investigation into the journalist's death. It is known that the body was returned without some internal organs.
