Roman Catholic priest Viktor Vonsovych who was abducted on 15 July by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine has been released.
Father Viktor Vonsovych is free, confirmed the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia Jan Sobilo on his Facebook page.
“He was freed on Saturday night following successful negotiations.”
The 39-year-old priest had been stopped at a check-point in the city of Horlivka, south east Ukraine, on 15 July, while trying to enter the city.
The clergyman, who was born and raised in Ukraine, had travelled to the city from Donetsk, and was due to carry out a mass in Horlivka.
Roman Catholicism and Greek Catholicism are minority faiths in the largely Orthodox region, and Father Wasowicz is the third priest to be kidnapped by pro-Russian separatists in recent weeks. Besides Wasowicz, one Roman Catholic and one Greek Catholic priest were abducted, although both were subsequently released. Orthodox priest of Kyiv Patriarchate Yuriy Ivanov is still kept by terrorists. Two Evangelical clergymen were killed in Sloviansk.