During a video conference on Sept. 16, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin emphasized the importance of protecting international human rights in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He met with Tatiana Moskalkova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, acknowledging her role in the June 28 release of two Ukrainian Redemptorist priests, Father Ivan Levytsky and Father Bohdan Geleta. The priests had been held by Russian forces for 18 months in Berdyansk, an occupied Ukrainian city, following their arrest on Nov. 22, 2022, on charges of weapons possession.
Parolin praised Moskalkova’s efforts in the priests' release and recalled Pope Francis' gratitude expressed during his June 29 Angelus address, where pope thanked God for their freedom and prayed for the release of all war prisoners.
The two priests, who serve the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic communities in Berdyansk, were detained for their ministry. Despite psychological and physical torture, which included severe beatings, they remained hopeful and committed to sharing their story to inspire faith in others enduring similar hardships. In an interview with Zhyve TV, Geleta described their experience, noting how they endured both physical and emotional suffering but continued to trust in God's plan.
In his July visit to Ukraine, Parolin met with the two priests, affirming the Vatican's ongoing concern for the human rights violations caused by the conflict. The cardinal and Moskalkova also addressed the humanitarian needs of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia, as well as the exchange of soldiers detained by both nations.
A February report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicated that over 10,500 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and around 20,000 injured since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, with the actual toll likely being much higher.
Parolin’s conversation with Moskalkova underscores the Vatican's focus on upholding human rights, even in the face of war, and calls for the protection of civilians and prisoners of war on both sides.