Kiev, Ukraine
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, surprised the Ukrainian capital Kiev, according to the national railway operator.
Friday’s trip was reunited with his father, Charles III, for his first meeting in 19 months, after Harry went on a solo trip to England early in the week.
News of a surprising trip to Kiev was confirmed by the Ukrainian Railway. He said in a statement:
According to reports from the Guardian who accompanied Harry on a train journey, Harry visited after an invitation from the Ukrainian government.
The prince is expected to arrive in the Ukrainian capital by train with his Invictus Games Foundation team and detail a new initiative to support the rehabilitation of injured Ukrainians.
In February 2025, Ukrainian President Voldy Mie Zelensky told British journalist Piers Morgan that around 390,000 military injuries had been recorded since the Russian full-scale Ukrainian invasion began in 2022.
Zelensky noted that returning to the battlefield often means vulnerability to further suffering, and that many on duty were injured multiple times during the conflict.
Harry has served in the Army for nearly a decade and, like many royals, is involved in various causes and patronage of charities, including those that help soldiers.
In 2014 he founded Invictus Games. This is an international sports competition for injured veterans and military members. He also met injured veterans from other countries, including during tours in Nigeria last year.
He previously visited Ukraine and traveled without notice to meet war victims in the western city of LVIV at the beginning of April this year.
On Wednesday, while he was in the UK, his office said his foundation would donate $500,000 to support children in Gaza and Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The British royal family has spoke openly about their support for Ukraine in combating the Moscow invasion. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, traveled to Ukraine last year to support survivors of war-related sexual violence.
Most recently, in March, after a disastrous meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House, Zelensky was warmly welcomed in London at a summit attended by many Western leaders.
In a very iconic move, King Charles III gave Zelensky an hour’s audience a few days after he invited Trump to his second state visit.
A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in June estimated that Ukraine has had nearly 400,000 casualties since Russia began its full-scale invasion. Russia was predicted to reach the 1 million casualty mark this summer, the study said.
Kyiv does not disclose its own combat losses in detail, and Moscow is believed to be a major underestimating its own casualties, but CSIS figures are in line with the UK and US intelligence report ratings.
Russia began more drone strikes in Ukraine until Friday, not Kiev, according to the Ukrainian military and various regional governments.
