The prince followed in his mum Diana’s footsteps by supporting de-miners clearing bombs in Ukraine – 28 years after the late Princess walked through a landmine corridor in Angola
Prince Harry has walked through a minefield corridor in Ukraine – echoing his mum Diana’s famous actions in Angola in 1997.
The Duke of Sussex supported Halo Trust de-miners by flying spotter drones and operating a robotic dog used to recover unexploded bombs.
It came after Harry called for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, sparking a frosty reply from the US president.
Harry has journeyed to the city of Bucha, Ukraine, where thousands of landmines remain scattered by Russian forces following a horrific massacre.
Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war were slaughtered in the city in April 2022, as Russian forces retreated.
Harry told ITV News: “The clean-up that is going to be needed here will go well into the next two, three, even four decades”.
To remove the landmines Ukrainian forces were forced to quickly develop various innovative technologies to combat modern warfare advances.
During his time in Bucha Harry tested some of the cutting-edge equipment used to clear areas including new AI-powered drones controlled with remote devices and VR headsets.
Speaking to ITV News, Harry commended the efforts of his charity Halo Trust and highlighted the similarities between his Ukrainian visit and the late Princess Diana’s landmine walk in Angola.
He said: “What Halo Trust is doing is absolutely incredible work. It’s sad, it’s very, very sad because nearly 30 years ago, my mother was in Angola, here we are again in a new conflict.”
Harry traversed an area littered with landmines, donning only a protective vest bearing the Halo Trust’s logo. Ukraine has become The Halo Trust’s largest operation globally, as the charity works relentlessly to secure the region, reports the Mirror.
Harry spoke of Halo’s clearance efforts and said: “It’s amazing to see technology transform the work of the Halo Trust-making mine clearance smarter, faster and safer.
“When my mother visited Angola nearly thirty years ago, de-miners carried out their work on their hands and knees to uncover hidden explosives. Now they’re also using drones, AI and robots for greater precision and protection. This isn’t just progress – it’s lifesaving.”
The Duke of Sussex has previously traversed landmine-infested terrain in Angola last year to retrace his mother’s path.
Angola endured a devastating 27-year civil war which concluded in 2002 – yet the nation continues struggling to locate the millions of landmines buried throughout its countryside. During Harry’s opening day in Ukraine, he made a direct appeal to Putin to “stop the war,” while addressing the Kyiv Security Forum.
In his address, he said: “President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing. There is still a moment – now – to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course.”
The Prince denounced the “systematic war crimes” and the “chilling” treatment of Ukraine’s children. He added: “Across occupied territories, there is mounting, documented evidence of systematic war crimes: deliberate attacks on civilians, mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the forced deportation of entire populations.
“Under international law, the forcible transfer of children from one national group to another is not just a war crime – it can constitute an act of genocide when carried out with intent to destroy a people’s identity. This is not collateral damage. This is not the chaos of war spilling over. This is organised, systematic, intentional, and designed to endure long after the fighting stops.”
Trump has responded to the prince’s plea and stated the royal does not speak for the UK. When asked about Harry’s remarks, Trump told reporters: “How’s he doing? How’s his wife? Please give her my regards, OK?”
He continued: “I don’t know. I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure. I think I’m speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry, that’s for sure. But thank him for his advice.”
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