Pope Francis meets with relatives of Ukrainian POWs

During the general audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis met with relatives of Ukrainian prisoners of war, who defended Mariupol and were illegally "convicted" in Russia.

That’s according to Vatican News, Ukrinform reports.

Pope Francis listened to the stories of four Ukrainian women. According to the publication, they told that their loved ones -  the defenders of Mariupol -  received "court sentences" in Russian courts for long terms, or even life, and are excluded from exchange lists. International organizations such as the Red Cross do not have access to them.

The women said that the last time they contacted their loved ones was in the spring of 2022.

At the meeting with the Pope, the women handed him lists, information about their loved ones, and symbolic gifts.

As reported by Ukrinform, on June 25, 90 defenders returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity.