Photo: BBC
Princess Anne makes surprise visit to Kyiv, highlighting plight of Ukraine’s children
Princess Anne paid an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Tuesday to draw attention to the “traumatic experiences of children living on the frontlines of conflict,” Buckingham Palace said.
During her trip, she left a teddy bear at a memorial for children killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion and spoke with young people who, according to Ukrainian authorities, had been taken from their homes by Russian forces.
The princess also met President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine. Her visit took place at the request of the British Foreign Office, just weeks after her nephew, Prince Harry, visited wounded veterans in Kyiv.
Anne toured a child protection center created during the war, meeting children reunited with their families and staff working to return others. Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, shared video of their meeting, thanking the UK for its “steadfast support” in defending Ukrainian children.
According to Ukrainian estimates, at least 19,500 children have been forcibly deported to Russia or occupied territories since February 2022, with only around 1,600 returned. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children’s commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over alleged illegal deportations — accusations Moscow denies.
Anne also met Ukrainian women police officers and military personnel, visited a rehabilitation center for injured veterans, toured the historic St. Sophia Cathedral, and attended a cultural exhibition from the recently liberated city of Kherson.
Her visit marked the second royal trip to Ukraine in under a month, following Prince Harry’s September visit. Other members of the royal family, including King Charles and Prince William, have voiced strong support for Ukraine since the war began more than three years ago.
