Harry tells wounded Ukrainian veterans ‘you will win war’ during surprise visit

The Duke of Sussex met wounded veterans and medics during a surprise visit to Ukraine on Saturday, telling them: “You’re going to win the war.”

Harry’s arrival in the western city of Lviv marked his fourth visit to the country since the start of the conflict with Russia.

The 42-year-old duke took the stage at a conference for medics, organised by Superhumans, a clinic in the city that specialises in rehabilitation of those injured in the war.

Although he acknowledged he had “taken a risk to come here”, Harry said: “Every single time I come back to Ukraine, I feel welcome, I feel warmth.

“You’re going to win the war and then you’re going to be set up for success.”

Harry was dressed casually in a dark, hooded puffer jacket, dark blue trousers and brown desert boots as he attended a series of events.

In a school sports hall, he watched wheelchair rugby players as they vied for a place in Ukraine’s team at next year’s Invictus Games, which is scheduled to take place in Birmingham next year.

Ukraine is planning to send 60 competitors – its largest ever team – to the 2027 edition of the event.

The country has about 1.4 million combat veterans, more than 10 per cent of whom have disabilities.

Later on Saturday, Harry told wounded veterans joining the Invictus movement: “When the war is over and when Ukraine wins, we will be ready to support you in holding an Invictus Games.”

At the rugby game, he hugged a player he recognised – Valery Odainyk, a former contestant at the Invictus Games in Canada in 2025, who has an amputated leg.

The 41-year-old with a large tattoo on one arm and deep smile lines, explained to the duke that he is “still an active serviceman”.

“So when do you find time to train?” Harry asked in surprise.

Mr Odainyk said afterwards he told Harry that his involvement in such sport “all started and continues with the Invictus Games”.

On his previous visit to Ukraine, The Duke of Sussex declared he would "always be part of the royal family" and was "doing the very thing that I was born to do" in the war-torn nation.