A teenage girl has met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as she tries to persuade Russia to release her mother, a Ukrainian paramedic who was taken prisoner four weeks ago.

Anna-Sofia Puzanova, who turns 19 on Monday, met Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, where her mother, Yuliia Paievska, was supposed to be competing.

She said Harry knew about the situation with her mother and the pair showed her “a lot of support”.

Six dead after Russia bombs Lviv – live Ukraine updates

Ms Paievska, 52, is said to be a well known paramedic, and is the founder and leader of Taira’s Angels, a volunteer medical evacuation unit that rescues the wounded – both military and civilian.

In Mariupol, Taira’s Angels rescued wounded soldiers and provided support to local people.

Ms Puzanova said: “My mum was captured by Russian soldiers near Mariupol on March 16, one month ago already.

“And now she’s probably in Russia. To be honest I don’t know exactly where she is because we don’t have any contact with her. I really miss her.”

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Ms Puzanova said her mother is a “very kind and brave person”, adding: “She’s a very strong woman. Her life mission is helping people actually.”

Asked what she would say to her mother’s captors, she said: “Bring back my mum to me.”

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In other Ukraine developments:
• Six reported killed in missile strikes on western city of Lviv – where Ukrainians have been fleeing to seek safety
• Ukraine “may have to accept loss of territory” – military expert says
• Pope Francis marked an “Easter of war” in an address from St Peter’s Square
• Austrian chancellor says Vladimir Putin believes he is winning the war

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Ms Puzanova is being filmed at the games for a Netflix documentary called Heart Of Invictus – a series from Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions following people competing at the event.

Ukraine is among the countries expected to be the focus of the series, and Ms Paievska has also been filmed previously for the show.

She also said Harry had wished her a happy birthday for when she turns 19.

Harry founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe, by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.

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