Duchess of Edinburgh Visits Ukraine, Condemns Russian Use of Rape as Weapon of War

The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, has become the first member of the British royal family to visit Ukraine since the start of Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. During her historic visit on Monday, the Duchess met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska to discuss strategies to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

In a powerful speech, the Duchess condemned the Russian forces' use of rape as a weapon of war, describing it as "pure evil" and as devastating as "bullets and bombs." She acknowledged that in conflicts, women and girls often "pay the highest price in terms of human cost."

The Duchess, who has been a vocal advocate against sexual violence in conflict, met with survivors of sexual violence, both male and female, as well as children who had been kidnapped by Russian forces. An estimated 20,000 children have been abducted since the war began. She listened to their stories and expressed her support for Ukrainian women who have played important roles in the conflict and community recovery.

Why this matters: The Duchess's visit is an important step in the UK's support for Ukraine, which has included £357 million in humanitarian assistance. It also highlights the ongoing issue of conflict-related sexual violence and the need for international efforts to support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

The presidential couple expressed gratitude for the UK's support, including sheltering Ukrainian refugees, providing military assistance, and helping organize a national judicial investigation of Russian war crimes. The First Lady also invited the Duchess to visit the St. Sophia of Kyiv National Conservation Area, highlighting it as a symbol of Ukraine's ancient statehood and culture.

During her visit, the Duchess paid respects to those who died in Bucha, where evidence of executions, rapes, and torture was discovered after the region was liberated from Russian occupation. She emphasized the importance of standing with survivors and ensuring that their rights and voices are at the heart of efforts to address conflict-related sexual violence.

The UK has pledged over £4.7 billion in non-military support to Ukraine since 2022, including funding for services for survivors of gender-based violence and working with the Office of the Prosecutor General to put survivors at the center of approaches to prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence crimes. The Duchess's visit is seen as a symbolic message of royal support for Ukraine and its people as they continue to face Russian aggression.

Key Takeaways

• Duchess of Edinburgh visits Ukraine, first royal to do so since 2022 invasion.
• Duchess condemns Russian forces' use of rape as a weapon of war.
• Duchess meets with survivors of sexual violence and kidnapped children.
• UK provides £357M in humanitarian aid and £4.7B in non-military support to Ukraine.
• Duchess's visit seen as symbolic message of royal support for Ukraine.