The first visit by a member of the British royal family to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Being on Ukrainian land today is true courage and bravery. And for Ukrainians, each such visit is a demonstration of solidarity and support.
Alongside the President, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, wife of Prince Edward, the youngest brother of the current British monarch, King Charles III, were thanked for this.
In the royal family, the Duchess is one of the most active public figures, overseeing over 70 organizations. A particular focus of her work is combating sexual crimes in conflict zones.
In March of this year, the Duchess participated online in the conference "Restoring Rights of Victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Peace and Global Security Imperative" in Kyiv, where she spoke about the importance of justice and protection for victims of Russian aggression, including women, men, and children.
Currently, prosecutors from the Prosecutor General's Office have documented 290 such crimes, with 14 minors among the victims...
The conference also addressed the issue of urgent reparations for these individuals. The first 50 victims are undergoing the identification process to receive them. These funds will not only provide material assistance but also serve as an important sign for other victims who have not yet dared to speak out—a sign that they will have support and not become just a statistic.
In her conversation with Her Royal Highness, gratitude was expressed for the United Kingdom's participation in the prosecution of Russian war crimes. This support includes both the United Kingdom and the Advisory Group on Serious Crimes and Mobile Justice Teams, as well as the training of our judges and criminalists. Thanks to funding from the British government in collaboration with the UN Population Fund in Ukraine, a network of centers for survivors has been created, one of which was visited by the Duchess of Wessex.
