Prince Harry: haunting appeal to wounded soldiers

Prince Harry (40) directed an important appeal to soldiers during his surprise visit to Ukraine. At a meeting with wounded veterans, the Royal mainly focused on rehabilitation and mental health – both topics that have been accompanying it personally for years.

“You will sometimes feel lost, without a task. But as dark as the days are – there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Harry in a discussion round with the veterans. It is crucial not to close yourself: “Silence keeps you in the dark. Open yourself towards your friends and families, because this is how you give them permission to do the same,” Harry appealed.

The Royal speaks from his own experience: it served in the British army for ten years, completed two missions in Afghanistan and openly reported his difficulties in the transition to civilian life. It is all the more important to allow the backing by relatives: “It is normal to feel lost. But you are not alone. There will always be someone – a mother, a father, a siblings, a friend or a comrade – who can catch you,” he emphasized in Kiev.

In addition, Harry paid tribute to the families of the soldiers who are also victims. “The wives and mothers who keep their loved ones on course earn as much respect as anyone who serves,” he said. His words also reflect the personal support that he himself experiences of wife Meghan (44) and his family.

Prince Harry traveled to the war zone together with a team of his Invictus Games Foundation at the invitation of the Ukrainian government. The visit is about new initiatives to support the rehabilitation of wounded. “We cannot stop the war, but what we can do is to do everything in our power for the recovery process”.

Harry had talks with the Ukrainian Minister of Veteran Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, about the long -term support from the Invictus Games Foundation. With more than 150,000 badly wounded soldiers in Ukraine, the need for rehabilitation is urgent. Harry’s team announced that Ukraine will be a focus of their work in the future.

In a panel discussion with Captain Olexiy Tiunin from Invictus Team Ukraine and other representatives of the Superhuman Center, Harry spoke about concrete support measures and about the work of the foundation that promotes rehabilitation and integration for wounded soldiers worldwide. He also attended a fundraising lunch to support the expansion of the Superhuman Center to up to five new rehabilitation centers. The visit ended on Maidan-Platz, where Harry put down a wreath to commemorate the fallen of Ukraine.