By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – The wives of two Ukrainian combatants who were trapped in Mariupol’s steelworks demanded that Pope Francis help them get their soldiers to a third nation. One of them told him to “please do not let them die.”

Yuliya Fedosiuk (29), and Kateryna Prokopenko (27) spoke for five minutes to the pope at the close of the general audience in St. Peter’s Square. They also asked him to directly intervene with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking that they be released because “Russian slavery is not an option”.

Mariupol is a port located on the Sea of Azov and has seen the worst fighting of the conflict in Ukraine. According to Kyiv, it’s likely that there have been tens or thousands of deaths since Russia invaded on February 24, 2014. The Azovstal steel factory is also the last piece of city held by Ukrainian fighters.

Prokopenko was heard saying to the pope, “You are the last hope. I hope you save their lives. Please don’t allow them to die.” Prokopenko can be seen in a Vatican video.

After the incident, the women revealed to reporters that they saw scenes of soldiers injured, bodies that were rotten, and people who have not been buried, as well as lack of food, water, and medicines at the steelworks.

The Azov Regiment members said that they spoke last to them on Tuesday.

Fedosiuk declared that “Our soldiers are still waiting to be evacuated, and to surrender their arms for the eventual evacuation.”

Prokopenko stated that Russian captivity was not an option.

Pope Francis said that he would do all he could to help them and would even pray for their success.

Fedosiuk replied that he was willing to travel to Ukraine to meet Putin. Although they mentioned Turkey and Switzerland, the women did not give any specifics.

Although scores of civilians were evacuated recently from the steelworks, Petro Andryushchenko said that around 100 people still remain inside.

Francis claimed in a May 3, published interview that he requested a meeting with Putin in Moscow to discuss the situation in Ukraine. However, he has yet to receive a response. [L2N2WV07U]

Fedosiuk asked for countries to build a “strong diplomatic coalition to press Putin to allow them safely go to a foreign country.”

Fedosiuk said that her husband asked Fedosiuk to locate a website about living without water as a way to prolong her marriage.

According to the Azov Regiment, on Tuesday, 34 Russian planes flew past the plant. Eight sorties were made by strategic bombers.

According to the Russian Navy, tanks, artillery, and rockets had been firing on the plant. Reuters couldn’t verify the situation.

Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operations” that aims to dearm Ukraine and defend it against fascists. The West and Ukraine both claim that the claims of fascists are unfounded and that war was an unprovoked aggression.