ROYAL MESSAGE
Duchess of Edinburgh first royal to visit Ukraine since Russian invasion as she meets President Zelensky and First Lady
Sophie visited as a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
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 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 the women peacebuilders who have a part to play in ensuring Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction is effective and long-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 at least four people were killed in a barrage of Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa nearly 300 miles away.
The mother of-two travelled in her role as champion of the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Her trip was understood to be an effort to demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war.
Sophie's brave journey also marks a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
In Kyiv, Sophie met male and female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture who shared their stories.
While in the capital, she talked to children who have been returned to Ukraine after being forcibly separated from their families and deported by Russia as part of a sustained campaign to erase Ukrainian culture.
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'WEAPONS OF WAR'
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 town was liberated from Russian occupation, during which Russian soldiers are believed to have committed war crimes against the civilian population.
The visibly-moved Duchess was seen laying flowers at a memorial that contains the names of the victims.
Sophie also visited a cathedral with the first lady in the capital Kyiv.
Later on the Duchess visited the “Road to Life”, a bridge which became a key part of the Ukrainian resistance when it was blown up to stop Russian troops proceeding to Kyiv.
It later became a vital route for people to flee to safety from the Russian occupation.
In a speech during her visit, Sophie said: "It's true that women and girls pay the highest price in terms of human cost when it comes to the way that they are affected, the way that they can be used as weapons of war.
"Rape is used to demean, to degrade and to destroy, and we have to get better at trying to prevent that from happening."
She added: "I've been meeting with survivors of sexual violence and the conflict.
"I thank them for that honesty in telling me what happened to them.
"Their stories are sad... But I appreciate their time and their openness."
Sophie has visited several countries over the years to highlight the impact of historical and ongoing conflict.
These include Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.
Odesa horror attack
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 officials said.
Regional governor Oleh Kiper, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said four of the injured were in serious condition and receiving urgent treatment.
He said the injured included two children and a pregnant woman.
Pictures posted online showed an ornate building close to the seafront ablaze and smoke billowing skyward.
Harrowing video footage, which could not be immediately verified, showed people receiving treatment on the street alongside pools of blood.
Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, in a posting on a military Telegram channel, said the strike was conducted by an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead.
These missiles are harder to intercept.
Public broadcaster Suspilne said the roof of the building, described as a law academy, had been nearly destroyed.
It said the academy's president, a prominent former member of parliament, Serhiy Kivalov, was among the injured.
Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has heard many first-hand testimonies from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence
In the two years since the war began 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 over £4.7 billion in non-military support to Ukraine.
This includes over £660 million of bilateral assistance that prioritises the needs of women and girls.
Read More on The US Sun
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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