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Ukrainian photographer killed while covering the war

EU demands investigation of Ukrainian journalists Victoria Roshchyna’s death in Russia

“The European Union remains deeply concerned about Russia’s ongoing harassment, intimidation and violence against journalists and media workers covering war zones and frontlines”, EU’s diplomatic service says in a statement following the death of Ukrainian freelance journalist Victoria Roshchyna, She had been detained by Russia in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. She is reported to have  died while being transferred to Moscow from a prison in Taganrog for an exchange of prisoners.

“The EU demands a thorough and independent investigation that clarifies all the circumstances of Victoria Roshchyna’s death as soon as possible.”

She was a recipient of the “Courage in Journalism Award” for her work and was determined to bring the truth about Russia’s brutal war of aggression and its illegal occupation of Ukraine to the world”, the statement says. 

“Her fate is a tragic reminder of the many thousands of persons detained in occupied Ukrainian territories and Russia, as well as the repression imposed by Russian authorities, also in Russia.”

“We firmly condemn the killings, physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, online and offline intimidation, harassment, and surveillance that journalists at times face while exercising their profession. There can be no impunity for human rights violations and abuses against journalists.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists report that Roshschina’s death was confirmed by Petro Yatsenko, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian government’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, head of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on freedom of speech.

Roshchina was a freelance reporter who covered the war in Ukraine for several Ukrainian media outlets. She went missing on August 3, 2023, when reporting on eastern Ukraine; her detention was confirmed by Russia in April 2024.

CPJ reports that at least 15 journalists and one media worker have been killed covering the war since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022. Multiple Ukrainian journalists have been detained in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

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