Natalia Kravtsova, the co-founder of the NGO "Women of Steel", and mother of the defender of Mariupol, called on Pope Francis to facilitate the release of 167 Ukrainian women from captivity and handed over a letter from military families.
This is stated in the message of the Coordination Headquarters, Ukrinform reports.
Speaking with the Pope, she stressed that 167 women - Ukrainian defenders, doctors, and non-combatants-have been held in Russian captivity for more than 9 months.
"These are very young girls and mothers who have not seen their children for more than a year since the Russian military surrounded Mariupol. But the Russian side does not take into account any arguments and refuses to release them or exchange them," the woman said.
Members of the Ukrainian delegation appealed to the Pope to join the release of Ukrainian women and seriously wounded soldiers, as well as to find a third country for the repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners of war.