The Duchess of Edinburgh has become the first member of the royal family to visit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
Sophie met with the president and first lady of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky and Olena Zelenska, on Monday morning and delivered a message to them on behalf of the king.
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The trio discussed how to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and women peacebuilders who have a role to play in ensuring Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction is effective and lasting.
Sophie, 59, visited war-torn Ukraine at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
She arrived in the country on the same day that at least four people were killed in a series of Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, nearly 300 miles away.
The mother of two traveled in her role as an advocate for the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
His trip was understood as an effort to demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children affected by the war.
Sophie’s courageous journey also marks the continuation of her work to advocate for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
In Kiev, Sophie met men and women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture, who shared their stories.
While in the capital, she spoke to children who were returned to Ukraine after being forcibly separated from their families and deported by Russia, as part of a sustained campaign to erase Ukrainian culture.
‘WAR WEAPONS’
A full-time working member of the Royal Family, the Duchess was also seen paying her respects at the site of a mass grave in Bucha.
It has been two years since the city was liberated from Russian occupation, during which Russian soldiers are believed to have committed war crimes against the civilian population.
The visibly emotional Duchess was seen laying flowers at a memorial containing the names of the victims.
Sophie also visited a cathedral with the first lady in the capital Kiev.
Later, the Duchess visited the “Road to Life,” a bridge that became a key part of the Ukrainian resistance when it was blown up to stop Russian troops from heading to Kiev.
It later became a vital route for people to flee Russian occupation to safety.
In a speech during her visit, Sophie said: “It is true that women and girls pay the highest price in terms of human cost when it comes to the way they are affected, the way they can be used as weapons of war.
“Rape is used to demean, degrade and destroy, and we have to do better in trying to prevent this from happening.”
She added: “I have been meeting with survivors of sexual violence and conflict.
“I thank them for their honesty in telling me what happened to them.
“Your stories are sad… But I appreciate your time and your openness.”
Sophie has visited several countries over the years to highlight the impact of historic and ongoing conflict.
These include Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.
Terror attack in Odesa
A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa on Monday killed four people and injured 28, local authorities said.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper, writing on messaging app Telegram, said four of the injured were in serious condition and receiving urgent treatment.
He said the injured included two children and a pregnant woman.
Photos posted online showed an ornate building near the seafront in flames and smoke billowing into the sky.
Distressing video footage, which could not immediately be verified, showed people receiving treatment in the street next to pools of blood.
Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, in a post on a military Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead.
These missiles are more difficult to intercept.
Public broadcaster Suspilne said the roof of the building, described as a law academy, was nearly destroyed.
It stated that the academy’s president, a prominent former member of parliament, Serhiy Kivalov, was among those injured.
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, especially on port infrastructure.
The Duchess of Edinburgh heard many first-hand testimonies from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
In the two years since the start of the war on 24 February 2022, at least 10,582 civilians have been killed and 19,875 injured in conflict-related violence in the country, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). ).
Since 2022, the UK has pledged more than £4.7 billion in non-military support to Ukraine.
This includes more than £660 million in bilateral assistance that prioritizes the needs of women and girls.
The king, when he was Prince Charles, visited Ukraine in 1996.
As monarch, he sent a message of support to the people of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the war.
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