The Duke of Sussex made a surprise visit to Ukraine over the weekend, meeting wounded veterans and medical workers and telling them: “You’re going to win the war.”
Prince Harry arrived in the western city of Lviv on Saturday, marking his fourth trip to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began.
The 42-year-old visited the Superhumans Centre, a specialist facility providing medical treatment, prosthetics and rehabilitation, before addressing the first international War Trauma Conference at the All-Ukrainian War Trauma Center.
Acknowledging that he had “taken a risk to come here”, Harry told attendees: “Every single time I come back to Ukraine, I feel welcome, I feel warmth.”
“You’re going to win the war and then you’re going to be set up for success.”
Harry said Ukraine’s expertise in supporting wounded service members and civilians would help form the basis for rebuilding the country once the conflict ends.
The War Trauma Conference is the first event devoted to modern methods of treating and rehabilitating people affected by combat-related injuries and trauma.
For his engagements, Harry wore a dark hooded puffer jacket, navy trousers and brown desert boots.
The Duke of Sussex met wounded veterans and medics during a surprise visit to Ukraine, telling them: “You’re going to win the war”
He later posed with organisers of Ukraine’s Invictus Games. Harry founded the event and serves as patron of the Invictus Games Foundation
Harry, pictured holding a child in Lviv, said he felt “welcome” and experienced “warmth” each time he visited Ukraine. His latest trip was his fourth since the conflict began
At a school sports hall, the Duke watched wheelchair rugby players compete for a place on Ukraine’s team for next year’s Invictus Games
He was photographed beaming as he lifted a young boy for a picture and later posed alongside organisers of Ukraine’s Invictus Games.
At a school sports hall, Harry watched wheelchair rugby players compete for selection to Ukraine’s team at next year’s Invictus Games. He also joined participants for a game of pickleball.
Ukraine plans to send 60 competitors — its biggest team yet — to the 2027 event, which is due to be held in Birmingham.
The country is home to around 1.4 million combat veterans, with more than 10 per cent living with disabilities.
Later on Saturday, Harry told wounded veterans joining the Invictus movement: “When the war is over and when Ukraine wins, we will be ready to support you in holding an Invictus Games.”
During the rugby session, he embraced a player he recognised, Valery Odainyk, who competed at the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada and has an amputated leg.
Mr Odainyk, 41, who has a prominent tattoo on one arm and deep smile lines, told the Duke that he remains “an active serviceman”.
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At a school sports hall, Harry watched wheelchair rugby players compete for places on Ukraine’s team for next year’s Invictus Games
Harry wore a dark hooded puffer jacket, navy trousers and brown desert boots during his engagements
Ukraine has approximately 1.4 million combat veterans, more than 10 per cent of whom have disabilities
Harry joined Ukrainian war veterans for a game of pickleball
The Duke signed a ball during trials for Ukraine’s Invictus Games team
Prince Harry’s arrival in Lviv on Saturday was his fourth visit to Ukraine since the conflict with Russia began
Prince Harry meets Ukrainian war veteran Kostiantyn Vlasenko at the Superhumans Centre
Harry told wounded veterans joining the Invictus movement: “When the war is over and when Ukraine wins, we will be ready to support you in holding an Invictus Games”
“So when do you find time to train?” Harry asked, appearing surprised.
Mr Odainyk later said he told the Duke that his commitment to sport “all started and continues with the Invictus Games”.
Harry’s previous visit to Ukraine took place in April 2026, just days after he and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, completed a pseudo-royal tour of Australia.
During the trip, Harry told reporters that he was “not here as a politician”, but as “a soldier who understands service” and as a “humanitarian”.
He called on Vladimir Putin to “stop this war” in Ukraine and accused Russian forces of carrying out “mass killings and torture”.
In September 2025, the Duke made his second journey to Ukraine and his first visit to Kyiv. The capital had come under attack from Russian cruise missiles just two days earlier.
During that trip, he pledged to do “everything possible” to help Ukrainian soldiers and service personnel injured during the three-year war with Russia.
Harry first travelled to Ukraine in April 2025, when he met people affected by the war in Lviv.
The visit to the western Ukrainian region, which has repeatedly been targeted by Russian missiles, was only announced after Harry had left the country.
Harry, 42, is the second member of the British royal family to visit Ukraine. His aunt, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, became the first British royal to travel there since Russia’s 2022 invasion when she made an unannounced visit to Kyiv in 2024.
