Duke of Sussex Reaffirms Support for Recovery Programmes and Sports Initiatives
Prince Harry travelled to Ukraine on Thursday in an unannounced visit, where he met members of the Ukrainian team connected to the Invictus Games.
During the visit, Harry praised the strength and determination of veterans affected by war. A post shared on the official Invictus Games social media accounts highlighted his meeting with members of the Ukrainian Invictus community.
The message said it was meaningful to reconnect with familiar faces including Yulia “Taira” Paevska, Oleksandr Budko and Sem Lahun during the visit to Ukraine.
It also noted that Oleksandr, Sem and Taira were part of Team Ukraine at the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023. Taira’s story was also featured in the Heart of Invictus.
The statement added that support for the Invictus community continues beyond the competition itself. Funding is being provided to Ukraine through the Signature Programme, helping sports initiatives, equipment, research and wider recovery efforts.
Harry also visited Kyiv during the trip and called for an end to the war, urging Vladimir Putin to stop the conflict and asking Donald Trump to show leadership in helping bring peace.
While members of the British royal family traditionally avoid political statements, Harry’s comments were more direct than those usually made by senior royals, although King Charles III and other family members have previously voiced support for Ukraine.
