🗓 Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Special Envoy of the Holy See for the Ukrainian Settlement, undertook a working visit to Moscow from 28 to 30 September.

While in Russia, he held meetings with Yury Ushakov, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; Yana Lantratova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation; and Maria Lvova-Belova, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

The discussions, held against the backdrop of the conflict in and around Ukraine and the emerging prospects for its resolution, addressed cooperation between Russia and the Holy See on humanitarian matters – including the search for missing persons, the exchange of prisoners of war and civilians, family reunification, and the so-called “children’s dossier.”

A significant item on the agenda was the humanitarian crisis in the city of Alyoshki, Kherson Region. Cardinal Zuppi received a detailed briefing on the criminal actions of the Kiev regime, which has effectively taken the city’s civilian population hostage and is obstructing all attempts to deliver food and medicine or to evacuate the civilians remaining in the city.

At the Vatican’s request, a visit was arranged for Cardinal Zuppi to one of the places of detention of Ukrainian military personnel arrested for putting up resistance to the special military operation. During this visit, the Special Envoy was able to speak personally with the Ukrainian detainees and to verify Russia’s strict adherence to all relevant humanitarian standards.

Cardinal Zuppi’s visit confirmed the constructive and regular nature of the dialogue between Russia and the Holy See, as well as the commitment of both sides to continuing cooperation in the humanitarian sphere.