Prince Harry Pays Surprise Visit to Kyiv to Support Ukraine’s Wounded Soldiers
In a recent humanitarian mission, Prince Harry made an unexpected visit to Kyiv following an invitation from the Ukrainian government. His aim was to support the recovery efforts of thousands of military personnel severely injured in the ongoing three-year conflict with Russia.
During his visit to the Ukrainian capital, Prince Harry, joined by a team from his Invictus Games Foundation, unveiled new initiatives to aid the rehabilitation of the wounded, with ambitions to extend such support nationwide.
Efforts to promote rehabilitation through sports have become a central aspect of Ukraine’s strategy for assisting veterans, following an estimation earlier this year that the war had already inflicted permanent disabilities on 130,000 people. The government has recognised the therapeutic potential of sports in addressing the challenges faced by these individuals.
Speaking with The Guardian on an overnight train to Kyiv, the Duke of Sussex stressed the importance of their mission, stating, “We cannot stop the war, but we can do everything possible to aid the recovery process.” Harry hopes his presence will serve to humanise the impact of the conflict and prevent desensitisation to its effects.
The visit was the result of an invitation from Olga Rudnieva, CEO of the Superhumans Trauma Centre in Lviv, Ukraine, which provides medical care to injured amputees. Although Harry initially visited the centre in April, his chance meeting with Rudnieva in New York later led to the arrangement for his current visit.
Significantly, this trip will allow Prince Harry to witness first-hand the devastation caused by the war, a stark contrast to the relative safety of Lviv. Ukraine’s participation in the Invictus Games has garnered substantial enthusiasm and necessity since the conflict’s onset, with the 2017 Games marking their first involvement.
Harry vividly remembered the profound impact of Ukraine’s team at The Hague Games, noting that the Ukrainian competitors stood apart as they returned to active duty. This visit is not only about providing support but also about acknowledging the young veterans’ sacrifices and the importance of the cause to the Invictus Foundation and its members.
During his stay in Kyiv, Harry is scheduled to tour the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War and meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The trip aims to facilitate direct dialogue with veterans and witness the reality of the destruction. In addition, the Prince’s foundation has been broadening its sports recovery programs to provide ongoing rehabilitation opportunities, including by supplying sports equipment in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, underscored the importance of sports in the healthcare and rehabilitation of veterans, acknowledging the growing relationship with the Invictus Games Foundation as crucial to developing sports-based recovery solutions in Ukraine’s veteran policy strategy.
By this year’s March, over 22,000 veterans across Ukraine had benefited from initiatives like gym memberships and pool passes, demonstrating the tangible impact of these sports rehabilitation programs.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/12/prince-harry-ukraine-visit-kyiv
