Head of Russian Detention Facility Charged in Death of Journalist Viktoria Roshchyna and Colleague

December 26, 2025 – Russia –

Ukrainian authorities have formally notified in absentia the head of a Russian detention centre of suspicion for torture and murder in connection with the deaths of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna and her colleague Ivan Matveyev, in a move that underscores Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to pursue accountability for war-related crimes. The notification was issued by Ukraine’s Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation, which say they have gathered evidence linking the facility’s leadership to systematic ill-treatment of detainees, including Roshchyna and Matveyev, while they were held in Russian custody.

According to the official notice served on December 30, 2025, authorities have informed the suspect, whose identity has been disclosed in Ukrainian media but who remains at large in Russian-controlled territory, of criminal suspicion in the deaths of Roshchyna and Matveyev while held at the Filin detention centre near Mariupol. Kyiv’s investigative bodies allege that both men and women prisoners were subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse at the facility, concluding that the centre’s director bears command responsibility for practices that amounted to torture and execution-style violence. Ukrainian prosecutors say the documented mistreatment includes beatings, stress positions, denial of necessary medical care, and conditions intentionally designed to cause death.

Viktoria Roshchyna, a 29-year-old independent journalist, and Ivan Matveyev, a human rights researcher and documentation specialist, were detained by Russian forces in early 2024 during a reporting mission in occupied territory. Their families last received limited contact before news emerged that both had died in detention under unclear circumstances. The Ukrainian Government and international rights groups have since documented evidence suggesting prolonged abuse preceded their deaths, charging that Russian authorities have failed to conduct credible investigations into the circumstances.

The in-absentia notification of suspicion is part of Ukraine’s ongoing legal strategy to pursue criminal responsibility for actions committed on occupied territory, despite the challenges of enforcing warrants across borders. Ukrainian prosecutors have stated they will continue gathering evidence for a future trial under Ukrainian law or international jurisdiction if opportunities arise, urging international partners to support investigative efforts into alleged war crimes.

Press freedom advocates have welcomed the step as a symbolic assertion of accountability, while noting the difficulties of securing justice in absentia when suspects remain under the protection of a state that rejects the legitimacy of such proceedings. They argue that continued documentation of abuses and formal notifications of suspicion are essential elements in maintaining pressure for eventual legal reckoning.

Reference – 

https://news.liga.net/en/politics/news/the-head-of-the-russian-detention-center-where-roshchyna-and-matveyev-were-tortured-was-served-with-a-notice-of-suspicion

Ukrainian Authorities Charge Russian Detention Center Head with Torture and Murder

https://unn.ua/en/news/the-head-of-the-russian-torture-chamber-where-journalist-viktoria-roshchina-was-killed-has-been-zaochno-in-absentia-notified-of-suspicion