Prince Harry traveled to Ukraine on Saturday for a surprise visit, marking his fourth trip to the country since the conflict with Russia began in 2022.
The British royal attended Ukraine’s National Invictus Games and a conference for medics in Lviv, an event organized by the Superhumans clinic, which specializes in rehabilitating war-wounded individuals. Al Jazeera reported that the royal stated he had “taken a risk to come here” while noting the warm reception he consistently receives in the country.
Visiting the National Invictus Games in Lviv
During his time in the western Ukrainian city, Harry watched wheelchair rugby competitors vie for spots on Ukraine’s team for next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham, England. Organizers report that roughly 500 people have registered to qualify for a 60-member squad, which would mark the largest team Ukraine has ever sent to the international event.
“You’re going to win the war,” Prince Harry told competitors, adding that they would subsequently be “set up for success,” Al Jazeera reported.
Harry established the Invictus Games Foundation in 2014 to support wounded, injured, and recovering military service personnel and veterans through adaptive sports, e-sports, and recovery programs. Addressing wounded veterans on Saturday, he pledged ongoing institutional backing.
“When the war is over and when Ukraine wins, we will be ready to support you in holding an Invictus Games,” Harry said.
Prince Harry Meets Ukrainian Serviceman Valery Odainyk
At a rugby match, the prince greeted Valery Odainyk, a leg amputee and contestant at the previous year’s Invictus Games in Canada, who remains an active serviceman in the Ukrainian armed forces. Upon learning Odainyk’s status, Harry asked in surprise, “So when do you find time to train?”
Odainyk told Harry that his involvement in disability sport “all started and continues with the Invictus Games,” Al Jazeera reported. The games feature a mix of adaptive core and winter sports, including alpine skiing, archery, track and field, cycling, wheelchair basketball, rugby, and tennis.
Ukraine currently has about 1.4 million combat veterans, with more than 10 percent of that total living with disabilities resulting from the conflict.
