Ukraine conflict: EU arms security concerns and Vatican diplomatic mission

European Union authorities are monitoring reports that military equipment and weapon components from the Ukrainian battlefield are being brought into the EU by returning veterans. A confidential EU Council document, reviewed by Euronews, highlights concerns regarding the potential for these items to enter the black market once the conflict concludes. Europol data indicates there are over 800,000 records of lost or stolen firearms in Ukraine, including those missing prior to the 2022 invasion.

In separate developments regarding the conflict, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is traveling to Moscow for a Vatican-led mission to discuss humanitarian issues. The mission, overseen by the Pope, aims to negotiate the return of children taken from combat zones, prisoner exchanges, and other civilian concerns.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense has reported military advancements in the Kharkiv region, claiming to have created a pocket for Ukrainian forces near Reznikovo and occupied several villages, including Petropavlovka and Lozovaja.