Ukraine, Day Two: The Enduring Scars of War, From Soil to Soul

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex today continued his visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, with a day that brought into sharp focus both the enduring human cost of war and the extraordinary resilience of those working to rebuild lives in its wake.

Sunrise over Kyiv and The Duke’s first visit was to the small town of Bucha, a place that has become synonymous with the brutality of Russia’s invasion. It is also, increasingly, a place defined by the painstaking work of recovery.

In woods outside of the town, The Duke joined deminers from The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance organization, to see firsthand the scale of contamination left behind by retreating forces. Fields, roads, and homes remain littered with explosive remnants of war – hidden dangers that continue to threaten civilian lives long after the front lines have moved on.

Accompanied by the HALO team, The Duke entered a cleared section of a minefield and observed the meticulous, high-risk work required to make land safe again. He also witnessed how new technologies are transforming this effort. From drones that can map contamination with precision, to advanced detection systems and robotic tools that reduce risk to human life, innovation is helping to accelerate what would otherwise be a generational task.

Yet even with these advances, the scale remains staggering. Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and clearance efforts are expected to take decades. For communities in places like Bucha, this work is not abstract – it determines whether children can play safely, whether farmers can return to their land, and whether families can rebuild their homes without fear.

For The Duke, the visit carried a deeply personal resonance. Nearly three decades after his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, brought global attention to the impact of landmines, he witnessed a new chapter in that same struggle – one where the urgency remains, but the tools and context have evolved. The message, however, is unchanged: the presence of landmines is not only a legacy of conflict, but an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Later that morning, The Duke attended the Invictus Games Ukraine Forum, where he joined veterans, partners, and supporters to reflect on a decade of the Invictus movement in Ukraine. Marking ten years since Ukraine’s participation, the forum celebrated not only sporting achievement, but the deeper purpose at the heart of Invictus: recovery, dignity, and the power of community for those who have served. Speaking on a panel alongside Ukrainian leaders and Invictus competitors, The Duke reflected on the lessons emerging from Ukraine – lessons that are reshaping how nations support their veterans, both in times of peace and conflict.

The day concluded with The Duke visiting Ukraine’s new National Military Memorial Cemetery, where he laid flowers at the grave of a fallen soldier. In a moment of quiet reflection, he paid tribute to the sacrifice of those who have lost their lives, and to the families who carry that loss forward each day. It was a solemn reminder that behind every headline are individuals, loved, mourned, and remembered.

Today’s engagements underscored a clear and urgent truth. While the world’s attention may shift, the realities on the ground in Ukraine do not. Recovery is not a moment, but a long-term commitment – one that demands sustained support, innovation, and international resolve.

Reflecting on the visit, The Duke said: “This visit has reinforced a truth the world cannot afford to forget – that the scars of war do not fade when the fighting stops. They endure in the lives of those who have served and sacrificed, and in the very land beneath their feet, where landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten communities long after the front lines have shifted. Recovery is not measured in moments, but in decades – and it demands our sustained attention, commitment, and care. Too often, our focus is drawn to how conflicts end, rather than how peace is sustained; yet it is in that long, quieter work of recovery where the future is truly secured.”

Through his work with organizations like The HALO Trust and the Invictus Movement, The Duke continues to highlight both the cost of conflict and the extraordinary efforts underway to address it – standing alongside those who are not only surviving war, but actively shaping what recovery looks like in its aftermath.