Svitlana Dukhovych / Sr. Amata J. Nowaszewska CSFN
A Ukrainian delegation, numbering nearly 30 people, participated in a general audience on February 18 in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, after which they met with the Pope and Cardinal Zuppi. Among the participants were representatives of organizations supporting detainees and families of prisoners.
A Mother Fighting for Her Son
Valentyna Shcherbyna, mother of Mykola, a young civilian from Kherson who has been in Russian captivity for three years, told Vatican media: “I cannot accept it, I must fight for my son, because those who were with him in captivity conveyed a message to me: he believes his mother is fighting for him.” Mykola was 21 when he was abducted; today he is 24.
Valentyna represents the association “Civilians in Captivity,” which works to raise public awareness and develop mechanisms for the return of civilians. “Civilians are returned very rarely. They are not subject to exchange; they can only be returned. An appropriate mechanism is needed,” she emphasized.
Return After Three Years of Captivity
Hope is offered by the stories of freed prisoners, such as Oleh Muzlov, a Ukrainian soldier captured in Mariupol. He was released after 3 years and 3 months in June 2025 as part of a prisoner exchange. “During captivity, I had one conversation with my daughter. After that conversation, procedures started, and soon after, I was released. Why did I come here? Because I believe that the Lord helps,” says Muzlov.
Liliya Orel, whose son is still in captivity, together with Muzlov’s daughter, handed Cardinal Zuppi a list of seriously ill and wounded prisoners of war. “We continue to act, even though I am still waiting for my son’s return,” she emphasized.
A Father in Service of Memory and Hope
Oleh Litvynenko, father of a missing soldier son, recalls that his son had been considered missing since June 2022. “Then, thanks to DNA testing, his body was identified. I buried him…” says the father, adding that despite the tragedy, he is involved in helping other families. “I help families of the missing and imprisoned to calm my soul. My friends say: ‘You do it for yourself and for your son.’ And it really helps. You have to believe and hope that everything will be fine. You must not give up,” he notes.
Support for Families After Prisoners’ Return
Kateryna, Oleh Muzlov’s daughter, reminds that psychological support is needed after returning from captivity: “When prisoners return home, they need support. It is important not to get lost in pain, to find strength within oneself and maintain balance to welcome loved ones with dignity and support them. They often say that everything is fine, but internally they are very fragile.”
The delegation participants emphasized the need for support for prisoners’ families and the necessity of actions for the release of those held in captivity.
