Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Tried to Harm Herself in Russian Detention

A former Ukrainian journalist, Viktoriia Roshchyna, attempted to cut her wrists in front of guards in a Russian detention facility while pleading for psychological help, according to testimony from a former inmate. Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity in 2024, had been held in Taganrog pre-trial detention centre after her arrest in August 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Her case continues to draw scrutiny as details of her treatment emerge.

A former prisoner who shared a cell block with Roshchyna told investigative outlet Slidstvo.Info that she repeatedly asked guards to be allowed to see a psychologist and to change her reading materials, requests that were allegedly ignored by detention staff. The source, speaking under the alias “Brytva,” said that during one morning inspection, Roshchyna asked again for help — prompting angry reactions from guards who ordered her back to her cell. Shortly thereafter, he heard her screaming before witnessing her tear at a plastic light cover and injure her wrists. Medics were reportedly called to the scene, though the injuries were not described as life-threatening.

The former inmate also detailed harsh conditions at the Taganrog facility, saying Roshchyna was frequently placed in solitary confinement in a punishment cell for “bad behaviour,” including “systematic beatings” and confinement in a cramped space with minimal amenities. The source described a punitive environment where detainees were expected to remain quiet and compliant, and any assertiveness was met with disciplinary measures.

Roshchyna’s family received word in October 2024 that she had died in detention at Detention Centre No. 3 in Kizel, Perm Krai, after more than a year in captivity. Her father was reportedly informed of her death by Russian authorities before her body was returned to Ukraine. She was among numerous Ukrainian citizens detained by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, including journalists, activists, and civilians held without a clear legal process.

Human rights organisations and media freedom advocates have repeatedly criticised the treatment of Ukrainian detainees in Russian custody, citing Roshchyna’s case as an example of the psychological strain and poor conditions faced by prisoners. Many assert that her repeated requests for mental health support — and the alleged punitive response by guards — highlight the challenges of securing humane treatment for journalists and other civilians held far from home.

Roshchyna’s death continues to resonate within Ukraine’s journalistic and advocacy communities, underscoring broader concerns about the welfare of detained journalists, the use of detention conditions to suppress dissent, and the lack of transparency surrounding the treatment of Ukrainian captives.

reference –

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/journalist-viktoriia-roshchyna-tried-cut-111100448.html

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/02/09/8020113/