Victoria Roshchina posthumously honoured with US award for courage

Tribute to journalist in US capital

On 28 October, a solemn ceremony took place in Washington, during which Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchina, who died in Russian captivity, was posthumously awarded the OXI Courage Award. This prize is presented by the American organisation Washington OXI Day Foundation to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage in the fight for freedom and democracy, including by risking their own lives.

Words from American journalist on Roshchina’s work

American journalist Simon Schuster delivered a speech on Victoria Roshchina’s courage. He stated that he had never personally met his Ukrainian colleague but had closely followed her professional activities, and later, reports of her abduction by Russian forces and her death in captivity.

According to Schuster, he first learned of Roshchina from the mayor of Energodar, whom he met in Zaporizhzhia after Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in 2022. The American journalist emphasised that Victoria was the only journalist who dared to return to territories occupied by Russia to document events.

«Їй було необхідно побачити окупацію на власні очі. Їй було необхідно розповісти про неї світові» (She needed to see the occupation with her own eyes. She needed to tell the world about it), said Simon Schuster.

Appeal from journalist’s father

Simon Schuster also read out an appeal from Victoria’s father, Volodymyr Roshchin. The journalist explained that he had been in contact with Victoria’s father, Volodymyr Roshchin, who had asked him to speak on his behalf. Volodymyr Roshchin was unable to attend the ceremony due to a deterioration in his health: he had recently suffered a heart attack.

In his appeal, the father emphasised: «Не можна допустити, щоб правда загинула в полоні» (We must not allow the truth to die in captivity). He recounted that Victoria had become passionate about journalism during her school years, viewing the profession primarily as an opportunity to help other people.

«Вона написала, що для неї щастя – це жити не лише для себе, а й заради допомоги іншим. У цьому полягало її щастя» (She wrote that for her, happiness is living not only for herself, but also to help others. That was her happiness), it says in Volodymyr Roshchin’s appeal, read by Simon Schuster.

A decision that cost a life

According to her father, from the very beginning of her career, Victoria chose difficult and dangerous topics, demanding accountability from representatives of the authorities. He recalled that Russian forces first abducted the journalist in March 2022. After her release, she had planned to travel to Washington to receive a journalism award: tickets and a hotel had already been booked.

However, Roshchina declined the trip and instead returned to the occupied territory, to Mariupol, to continue her reporting work. «Вона зробила це з єдиною метою: показати світові жорстоку правду про злочини російського агресора. Ця відданість коштувала Вікторії життя» (She did this with a single purpose: to show the world the harsh truth about the crimes of the Russian aggressor. This dedication cost Victoria her life), the appeal noted.

Separately, Volodymyr Roshchin called on the Ukrainian authorities to award his daughter the title of Hero of Ukraine and thanked the award organisers for honouring her memory.