Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered a rare look inside his top-secret underground bunker, where he has lived and led his country since the start of Russia’s invasion.

On Sunday, Zelensky will meet with King Charles at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, just days after his discussions with US President Donald Trump. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian leader confirmed the meeting, stating, “Tomorrow (Sunday), there will be a series of bilateral meetings, including one with King Charles III and the European leaders' meeting on supporting Ukraine.”

Zelensky previously gave the world a glimpse inside his Kyiv war room in 2023 to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. In a documentary titled Year, Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Komarov was invited inside the shelter, where the president has made critical decisions and led wartime efforts. The compact space was adorned with personal family photos and featured a bust of wartime leader Winston Churchill alongside Ukrainian flags.

Recalling the moment he first learned of the invasion, Zelensky described the intense uncertainty of that night. “It’s difficult to remember every detail. I received a call that everything had begun,” he said. He and his wife, Olena, woke up to the news and immediately thought about how to inform their children. “They are adults, they must understand what’s happening. I left very fast. I love my family, but as president, my priority was to be here.”

A government source told The Times that bunker life was a difficult existence, noting that “you don’t see the sun, you don’t know the time.” During this period, Zelensky was completely cut off from his wife and children.

Despite the isolation, the Ukrainian leader was quick to leave the bunker when possible, frequently visiting the frontlines, walking through trenches, and showing solidarity with his people in Kyiv. Reflecting on the war’s impact on his family, he admitted there was little time to dwell on personal struggles.

"We didn’t have time for such romance because we were too busy," he said. "The only thing I remember thinking about after the invasion was this office, the phones, and gathering my team. Everything had changed. Life had changed. And returning to the way things were before was impossible."