Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of Prince Edward, made her first visit to Ukraine on April 29. This marked the first time a member of the British royal family has been to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. President Vladimir Zelensky and First Lady Elena Zelenskaya expressed their gratitude for the support of Great Britain, particularly in providing shelter for Ukrainian refugees and military assistance packages.
During her visit, the Duchess emphasized the importance of British support and thanked her for her efforts in fighting sexual violence in war zones. She also acknowledged Britain’s assistance in organizing a national judicial investigation into Russian war crimes and participating in the Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children held captive in the Russian Federation.
The Duchess visited Irpen city in Kyiv region where she observed evacuation efforts and admired residents’ resilience against Russian shelling. The visit was kept secret and came as a pleasant surprise to city mayor Alexander Markushin.
Overall, the visit highlighted Ukraine’s strong relationship with Great Britain as well as international support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.