ROYAL VISIT
Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine war victims in Lviv hours after UK court appearance
His trip came after he spent two days in London, appearing in High Court over his security battle
PRINCE Harry has met with war victims and veterans in a surprise visit to Ukraine.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, made the unannounced trip today as part of his ongoing work with wounded veterans, a spokesperson said.
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He went to the Superhuman Center, an orthopedic clinic in Lviv, that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians.
The dad of two saw how the services are rolled out in a war-torn country.
The center provides prosthetics, reconstructive surgery and psychological help free of charge.
Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, has worked tirelessly on providing support for injured veterans since founding the Invictus Games.
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The Duke was accompanied by a contingent from the Invictus Games Foundation, including four veterans who have been through similar rehabilitation experiences.
Superhuman Center founder Stavnitser Andrey shared some photos with the royal.
He wrote: "A member of the British royal family visited Ukraine for the first time since the start of the full-scale war — and he came to us at @superhumans.center! The visit was not announced until the team left.
"@princeharryofengland founded @weareinvictusgames in 2014 — a sports competition for injured veterans.
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"Harry served in the army, and was in Afghanistan twice. Thanks to the media weight of his voice, the prince does a lot for veterans around the world.
"To come here to the Superhumans centre and see the incredible, amazing rehabilitation and care that is provided here under one roof, which is designed specifically for this purpose, is just astounding," Prince Harry said of us.
Prince Harry arrives for day 2 of his appeal against the rejection of his legal challenge to the British government's decision to take away his police protection
"The deepest respect - it is difficult to say anything more about a man who can afford any activity in this world, but has chosen to dedicate himself to supporting and encouraging injured veterans.
"Deepest respect – it is difficult to add anything more to a person who can afford any occupation in this world, but chose to devote himself to supporting and encouraging veterans who were wounded.
"I think that in decades, when all the world's wars finally end, a postscript will remain on the signpost in Lviv: "Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, was here. A real Superhuman."
Harry has proudly poured years of work into helping war veterans.
The duke was last year offered the Pat Tillman award "in honour of his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community".
ESPN said the Invictus Games has "transcended borders and impacted lives across every continent".
Harry jetted across the pond to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his Invictus Games in May 2024.
The first-ever ceremony took place in March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
It unfolds over the course of seven days and sees more than 500 athletes compete in nine core sports - as well as additional activities and competitions, including esports.
Sporting events at the Games include wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby, and indoor rowing.
The duke also recently announced exciting new plans for a lavish Invictus Games centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
Harry's visit with war veterans in the Ukraine comes as tensions between Russia are at boiling point, after Zelensky claimed two Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia were captured.
Prince Harry's Army career
Prince Harry entered RMAS in May 2005 to begin 44 weeks of Officer Cadet training, this was after passing his Regular Commissions Board (RCB), the qualification necessary to train at Sandhurst, in September 2004.
In January 2006, Clarence House announced he was to join the Blues and Royals, after which he was commissioned as an Army officer on 12 April that year.
The Duke of Sussex served in the Army for ten years, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.
The father of two rose to the rank of Captain at the peak of his military career which began in 2004.
During his time serving, he qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander.
In his memoir Spare he revealed he flew six missions during his second tour of duty which resulted in "the taking of human lives" of which he was neither proud nor ashamed.
His decision to leave the Army was confirmed in March 2015.
Prince Harry ended his military career at the rank of captain in June 2015, following a secondment to the Australian military.
General Sir Nicholas Carter, the then-Chief of the General Staff, said that Prince Harry had "achieved much in his 10 years as a soldier".
And now Zelensky has claimed at least 155 Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia.
The Ukrainian SBU secret service revealed the first interrogations with two captured Chinese prisoners of war.
Harry's visit to Ukraine was not announced until after he had left.
It came after he spent two days in London, appearing in High Court over his security battle.
He is appealing the British governments decision to strip him of his government-funded protection after he quit working as a member of the royal family in 2020 and moved to California.
Harry is the second member of the royal family to visit Ukraine after his aunt, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
She became the first British royal to travel to the country last year since the invasion by Russia in 2022.
Meanwhile, King Charles, 76, welcomed President Zelensky, 47, to Sandringham after his "bruising" Oval Office meeting.
And Prince William met with Ukrainian refugees during a two day visit to Estonia last month.
This follows Harry begging "my life is stake" as he appealed against the withdrawal of his publicly-funded security while in the UK.
The Duke brought the case against the Home Office and the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
Harry claimed he was "singled out" after his round-the-clock royal protection was stripped in the wake of Megxit.
He also attempted to sue because it refused to spend taxpayers' money on bodyguards after he left the Royal Family.
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But in February last year, High Court judge Sir Peter Lane rejected the duke's case and ruled Ravec's approach was not irrational or procedurally unfair.
Harry returned to the Court of Appeal in London to appeal against the ruling.
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