The Princess Royal visited Ukraine on Tuesday to highlight the "traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline of the conflict," Buckingham Palace has said.
At a memorial for children killed during Russia's full-scale war, Princess Anne left a toy bear and spoke with young people who had been forcibly removed from their homes by Russian forces.She also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine and its continuing resistance against Russia.
The official visit, arranged by the Foreign Office, comes just weeks after her nephew, Prince Harry, met with war-wounded veterans during a surprise visit to Kyiv.
Supporting Children Affected by War
The Princess Royal, the King's sister, paid her respects at the Children's Memorial alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska, who opened the site in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.The princess also visited the Child Rights Protection Centre, which was established to help young people affected by the war.There, she spoke with children who have been reunited with their families, as well as with staff who are "working tirelessly" to bring more young people back.
According to Kyiv, at least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported from their homes to Russia and Russian-controlled territories since February 2022.The government's "Children of War" website states that only 1,605 have returned home so far.In 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the alleged unlawful deportation of children. Russia denies the allegations, claiming it has moved children from a war zone for their own protection.
A Symbol of Resilience
During her visit, the princess also met female police and armed forces officers working to protect women and children and spoke with wounded veterans at a rehabilitation centre.
This is the second visit by a member of the Royal Family to the country in less than a month. Other royals have also shown their support for Ukraine since the war began.The King welcomed President Zelenskyy to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk in March, stating at the time: "Today, as tyranny once more threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in favour of Ukraine, to prevent conflict and ensure stability."
Earlier this year, the Prince of Wales met Ukrainian refugees during a visit to Estonia, whom he described as "amazing."
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