KIEV.– Prince Harry made a surprise trip to Ukraine and assured soldiers that the country will defeat Russia. During a visit to Lviv, in western Ukraine, the Duke of Sussex met with wounded veterans and healthcare workers, and took part in a conference dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of those injured during the war.
"Every time I return to Ukraine, I feel welcome, I feel warmth. You are going to win the war, and afterwards you will be in a position to build a successful future," Harry told attendees.
The prince acknowledged that he had taken a risk by traveling to the country, though he said the reception he received upon arriving on Saturday was marked by that feeling of "warmth."
Prince Harry of Britain, Duke of Sussex (left), meets with civilians affected by the war at the Superhumans Center, a facility specializing in medicine, prosthetics, and rehabilitation in Lviv. EFREM LUKATSKY - POOL
This was his fourth visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion of February 2022. The trip centered on the work of the Superhumans Center, a clinic specializing in the care and rehabilitation of people who fought in the conflict. The institution, based in Lviv, provides prosthetics to those who lost limbs on the battlefield and had already received the prince's support.
The conference Harry attended was organized by the center and brought together people involved in caring for the war wounded. During his time at the clinic, Harry also watched a wheelchair rugby match featuring athletes who hope to join the Ukrainian team at the upcoming Invictus Games, scheduled for next year in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Ukraine hopes to send around 60 competitors, which would make that delegation the largest it has ever fielded.
The prince approached one of the players and hugged him upon recognizing him: Valery Odainyk, a Ukrainian veteran who took part in the 2025 edition, held in Canada, and who uses prosthetic legs. Odainyk told him that he remains in active service and that his involvement in sports began and continues thanks to the Invictus Games.
"It all started and continues with the Invictus Games," he explained after the meeting. Harry expressed surprise at learning that, despite still being on active military duty, he found time to train.
Prince Harry of Britain, Duke of Sussex (C), meets with Ukrainian war veterans at the Superhumans Center, a facility specializing in medicine, prosthetics, and rehabilitation in Lviv. EFREM LUKATSKY - POOL
The possibility of bringing the competition to Ukraine was also part of the discussions. Harry, who created the Invictus Games in 2014 for wounded military personnel, promised that he would help organize an edition in the country when the war ends.
"When the war is over and Ukraine wins, we will be ready to support you so that you can hold an Invictus Games," he said.
The proposal pointed to a post-conflict horizon, but also highlighted the desire for Ukrainian veterans to play a central role in the competition.
The trip to Lviv adds to two other recent visits to Ukraine. Harry was in Kiev in September 2025 and returned in April of this year. On that occasion, he described the country as "a nation that bravely and successfully defends Europe's eastern flank" and said it was important not to lose sight of the significance of that defense.
Prince Harry of Britain, Duke of Sussex (C), meets with Ukrainian war veterans at the Superhumans Center, a facility specializing in medicine, prosthetics, and rehabilitation in Lviv. EFREM LUKATSKY - POOL
The prince, who is 42 years old, spent a decade in the British Army and served in Afghanistan, where he also worked as a helicopter pilot. He has described those years as the happiest of his life. His bond with wounded military personnel is also expressed through the Invictus Games, which he founded more than a decade ago and which will have a new edition next year in Birmingham, with a Ukrainian participation that aspires to be historic.
Reuters News Agency