Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukrainians suffering life-changing injuries from the ongoing war. The trip, organised at the invitation of Superhumans—a charity providing prosthetics and rehabilitation for those maimed by the conflict—underscored Harry’s ongoing commitment to supporting wounded veterans and civilians. He arrived by train on Friday morning, where he was warmly welcomed by the organisation’s founder Olha Rudnieva, who greeted him with a traditional Ukrainian railway tea glass holder.
The visit marks the prince’s first time in the Ukrainian capital, though he previously toured a rehabilitation centre run by the same organisation in Lviv earlier this year. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians, both soldiers and civilians, have endured amputations since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, though Kyiv has not released precise figures for military casualties. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Harry stressed the importance of aiding recovery efforts. “We cannot stop the war, but what we can do is everything possible to help the recovery process,” he told The Guardian. “We can continue to humanise the people involved in this war and what they are going through.”
The duke’s trip is closely tied to his Invictus Games Foundation, which he launched in 2014 to support wounded service personnel through sport. Ukrainian athletes were granted special permission by President Volodymyr Zelensky to join the competition in 2022, symbolising international solidarity with the war-torn nation. During Friday’s schedule, Harry was seen meeting with Ukrainian veterans at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, where he posed for photographs with servicemen and children. Reports suggest he will also unveil new rehabilitation initiatives during his stay.
Harry’s presence in Kyiv follows his charitable foundation Archewell’s announcement earlier this week of a $500,000 (£369,000) donation to projects supporting injured children from Ukraine and Gaza. The grants will assist the World Health Organization with medical evacuations and fund the development of advanced prosthetics for young people. His visit also comes amid broader royal support for Ukraine: King Charles hosted President Zelensky in Norfolk earlier this year, while Prince William met Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, praising their resilience.
The duke’s journey to Ukraine comes just days after a private reunion with his father, King Charles, in London—their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024. While that encounter has been described as a tentative step toward reconciliation within the Royal Family, Harry’s trip to Kyiv highlights his focus on humanitarian causes and his determination to stand with those most affected by war.
