Duchess of Edinburgh opens up on 'sad and painful' trip: 'It will live with me'

The royal visited the country to show solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the conflict.

Since her return, the duchess has been hailed “brave” for visiting Ukraine, but Sophie has dismissed these comments and pointed to the survivors of the war as the courageous ones.

In a diary of her visit for The Sunday Times, the duchess said: “Since returning to the UK, many people have said how brave or courageous I was for going. I am neither.

“The brave people are those who have endured extreme violence and survived.

“The courageous are those who have reported the crimes committed against them. I am glad to have made the journey.

“Inevitably it was sad and emotional, and the painful stories and images, as with all my visits to places of conflict, will live with me.”

During her visit, the Duchess of Edinburgh handed President Zelensky a letter from the King after he enquired about the monarch’s health.

In February the King praised the “determination and strength” of the Ukrainian people in a statement to mark two years of conflict in Ukraine.

The duchess, who is a long-term advocate for those affected by conflict-related sexual violence, called for better psychological care and evidence gathering for victims of sexual violence in the war following her visit.

She described reports of sexual violence as a “casualty or symptom of war, rather than a deliberate tactic to overpower.”

She added: “It is only more recently that increased recognition has been given to these heinous crimes, and society has come to understand that it is used to demean, destroy and control, with the aftermath long felt through stigma, devastating physical and mental health repercussions and children born of rape.

“It is a weapon requiring no training, no investment, and it is deployed globally.”

Statistics from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights found an estimated 169 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine since February 2022.

The total number of Ukrainians who have suffered sexual violence is unknown as not all survivors report the crime, However, the Global Survivors Fund estimates it to be in the thousands.

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Last month it was announced that reparations would be paid to survivors of wartime sexual violence in Ukraine.

First Lady Olena Zelenska said: “Reparations to victims of gross human rights violations, including victims of conflict-related sexual violence, are not just about economic support. It is an important step towards restoring justice.”

She continued: “And this justice is not only in Ukraine. Justice for Ukrainian victims of violence is now a mirror for the world itself.”

The move marks the first time survivors have been awarded reparations during an ongoing conflict.