Princess Anne of the United Kingdom made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to draw attention to the tragic plight of Ukrainian children affected by Russian aggression. During her stay, she met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, visited memorial sites for children who lost their lives, and spoke with teenagers who were successfully returned after being deported by Russian forces, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to BBC and Sky News.
According to Buckingham Palace, the primary aim of the visit was to highlight the traumatic experiences of children living near the frontlines and enduring the consequences of war.
While in Kyiv, Princess Anne and the First Lady visited the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, as well as St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, where they honored the memory of young Ukrainians whose lives were tragically cut short by the conflict. At the memorial for children killed in the war, they placed soft toys. Reports indicate that when the 75-year-old princess left a small teddy bear at the foot of the memorial, she remarked to the First Lady: “My daughter had the same one.”
Princess Anne also visited the Child Protection Center, where she met with teenagers who had been abducted by Russian troops and were later safely returned home. She expressed gratitude to the center’s staff for their tireless efforts in reuniting as many children as possible with their families.
The visit included an official meeting with President Zelensky, during which they discussed ongoing support for Ukraine from the United Kingdom.
This trip followed shortly after her nephew, Prince Harry, visited Kyiv a few weeks ago to meet with injured Ukrainian veterans.
Earlier we wrote that Prince Harry in Kyiv: new rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian soldiers and meeting with veterans.
