{
  "id": 16481640,
  "title": "Pope’s envoy becomes first foreign representative to gain access to Ukrainian POWs held by Russia since 2022",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/popes-envoy-becomes-first-foreign-representative-to-gain-access-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T13:16:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/10/25/first-foreign-representative-to-visit-ukrainian-pows-in-russia-since-2022/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a foreign envoy has gained permission to meet Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian military. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a special envoy of Pope Leo XIV, visited Ukrainian POWs in Russia, marking a potential breakthrough in access to captives that have largely been cut off from international humanitarian organizations. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, confirmed the cardinal's visit, which also involved meetings with Russian officials such as Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova. The Pope's envoy's visit comes after Ukraine released 270 captives, including 261 soldiers and nine civilians, on October 23. Lubinets emphasized that each exchange presents an opportunity for progress in returning not only prisoners of war but also civilians held by Russia.",
  "summary": "Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Pope Leo XIV’s special envoy, was allowed to physically visit Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia during his recent visit, Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Hardware",
        "title": "Ukrainian drone attacks hammer Russia's finance ministry data center, damaged facility reportedly holds tax databases",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/ukrainian-drone-attacks-hammer-russias-finance-ministry-data-center",
        "published": "2026-10-25T14:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "What is Russia’s Filin missile, and why are Ukrainian experts worried?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/what-is-russias-filin-missile-and-why-are-ukrainian-experts-worried",
        "published": "2026-10-25T14:07:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}