NUJU visited by Ambassador of the Vatican Visvaldas Kulbokas

“You dedicate your lives to truth, life, and peace, protecting from aggression…,” the Apostolic Nuncio, Ambassador of the Vatican to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas, wrote this touching entry about Ukrainian journalists in the book of honored guests at the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) on February 18.

“It was a great honor for me and our team to tell the esteemed guest about the work of the network of Journalists’ Solidarity Centers and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine,” notes the President of the NUJU, Sergiy Tomilenko. “Mr. Ambassador is a true supporter of Ukraine, and he deeply understands the role of the media in our resistance.”

The Apostolic Nuncio was especially impressed by the story of the Bakhmut newspaper Vpered and its editor, Svitlana Ovcharenko. During the fiercest fighting, this publication revived with the support of the NUJU, saved thousands of Bakhmut residents, informing people in basements about evacuation routes, and support in peaceful territories.

During the meeting at the NUJU, great attention was paid to the topic of the release of Ukrainian media workers from russian captivity. Since the release of prisoners is a priority for the Vatican, the interlocutors agreed to transfer to the Ambassador the lists of captured journalists compiled by the NUJU for joint work on their release.

They also discussed the successful experience of cooperation between the Ivano-Frankivsk JSC with volunteers and the Archdiocese of the UGCC in helping journalists and the leadership efforts of the Ivano-Frankivsk residents in implementing successful charitable initiatives.

The members of the association also presented three international photo exhibitions at the NUJU office: Journalists at War, Flashes of War, and Journalists in Captivity (Executed Free Speech).