Ukrainian Journalist Goes Missing in Eastern Ukraine

26-year-old Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna has reportedly disappeared while on assignment in the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine. Concerns about her safety and whereabouts have been raised after her family reported her missing.

According to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn, Viktoria began her journey on July 27, departing from Ukraine to Poland, planning to access the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine through Russia.

Her last communication with her family occurred on Thursday, August 3, during which she mentioned passing several border checkpoints but did not disclose her exact location.

Ukrainian authorities, citing information from their intelligence services, have suggested that Roshchyna was detained by Russian representatives and may now be held in a detention facility within Russia.

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has expressed “extreme concern” about the situation and has called upon the international community to focus on her disappearance.

The young journalist has been actively covering conflict zones since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion. Her work has been featured in the Ukrainian news sites Hromadske, Ukrainska Pravda, and Radio Liberty.

In March 2022, she was previously detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and held for ten days before being released. In recognition of her fearless journalism, she received the IWMF “For Courage in Journalism” award in 2022.

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