Britain's Prince Harry has made a surprise visit to Ukraine to support wounded service members amid ongoing conflict in the region. His representatives confirmed his arrival in the capital, Kyiv, on Friday, but refrained from disclosing details of his schedule for security reasons. This marks Prince Harry's second visit to Ukraine since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022; he previously traveled to the western city of Lviv in April.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Harry expressed his commitment to aiding the recovery process for those affected by the conflict, stating, "We cannot stop the war but what we can do is do everything we can to help the recovery process." The prince, a British Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style event that aims to inspire military veterans globally as they overcome injuries sustained in battle. Notably, Ukraine is bidding to host the Invictus Games in 2029.
This visit coincides with significant philanthropic efforts from the Archewell foundation, established by Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. This week, the foundation announced a donation of $500,000 directed towards initiatives supporting injured children in both Gaza and Ukraine. The funds are earmarked for assisting the World Health Organization with medical evacuations and funding the development of prosthetics for seriously injured young individuals.
During his time in Ukraine, Harry is expected to visit the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, spend time with 200 veterans, and meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The timing of Harry's visit is particularly notable, as it coincides with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper's trip to Ukraine, where she unveiled a new set of U.K. sanctions aimed at targeting Russia's oil revenues and military supplies.
Cooper's visit represents a show of solidarity with Ukrainians, who have recently endured intensified assaults from Russia, including a staggering increase to 6,500 drones and missiles in July—ten times the level experienced a year prior.
Harry's trip to Ukraine follows a significant four-day visit to the U.K., where he met with his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months. This meeting is viewed as a crucial step toward mending the fraught relationship between Harry and other royal family members, which has seen considerable strain since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California in 2020. Their last meeting occurred in February 2024 when Harry visited London upon hearing of Charles's cancer diagnosis, spending approximately 45 minutes with the king before Charles headed to his Sandringham estate for treatment recovery.
Harry's previous visit to Ukraine included a stop at the Superhumans Center, an orthopedic clinic located in Lviv dedicated to treating wounded military personnel and civilians. The center offers prosthetic limbs, reconstructive surgery, and psychological support at no cost, demonstrating a vital resource in the ongoing recovery efforts for those affected by the war.
Currently, Harry's visit takes place amidst escalating conflict in Ukraine, occurring less than a week after one of Russia's most significant aerial attacks since the invasion commenced over three years ago. Recently, Russian drones also penetrated the airspace of NATO member Poland, highlighting the precarious situation in the region as Harry made his way to Ukraine.
