Princess Anne makes unannounced visit to Ukraine to support Ukrainian children – photos
Princess Anne has visited Kyiv on an unannounced trip to draw attention to the tragic fate of Ukrainian children affected by Russian aggression. She has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska, honoured the memory of children who lost their lives and spoken with teenagers who were brought back from Russian deportation.
Details: Buckingham Palace said the main purpose of the trip was to highlight the "traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline of the conflict".
While in Kyiv, the princess, together with Zelenska, visited the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War and St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, where they paid tribute to young Ukrainians whose lives were cut short by Russia.
Quote from Sky News: "As the 75-year-old princess stepped back after placing the traditional-looking teddy at the base of the memorial alongside scores of other cuddly toys, she told Mrs Zelenska: 'That was one that my daughter had.'."
Details: In addition, Princess Anne visited the Child Rights Protection Centre, where she spoke with teenagers who had been abducted from their homes by Russian forces but were later brought back to Ukraine. She also thanked the centre's staff, who work tirelessly to reunite as many children as possible with their families.
During the visit, she also met with Zelenskyy to discuss further support for Ukraine from the UK.
This visit came a few weeks after the princess's nephew, Prince Harry, also travelled to Kyiv to visit Ukrainian veterans wounded in combat.
Background:
- London recently announced new sanctions targeting individuals involved in the "forcible deportation and indoctrination" of Ukrainian children.
- In March 2023, the Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, was also targeted with a warrant and is accused of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
- Official data shows that at least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been illegally deported to Russia and Russian-occupied territories since February 2022. According to the Children of War government database, only 1,605 of them have been brought back home so far.
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