King Charles III has spoken of the "truly terrifying" situation in Ukraine on a visit to Liverpool.
The monarch was in the city with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest.
At an event to mark the twinning of Liverpool Central Library with the Odesa National Scientific Library in Ukraine, King Charles said: "I find it truly terrifying that more than 300 state and university libraries in the Ukraine have been destroyed in recent months."
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He added: "Our hearts go out to all those who I know have been so affected and also at how much has been lost in this terrible disaster."
The King also spoke of the importance of libraries. He said: "If it is true to say that the limits of our language are the limits of our world, then the role of libraries is something to be treasured greatly.
"The books and the stories of the human condition they make available to us all broaden our experience and expand our knowledge of a myriad of subjects and most importantly deepen our understanding of the humanity common to us all."
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which started in 2014.
Liverpool is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest next month (May 2023) on behalf of Ukraine and has put the country at the heart of the event.
King Charles and Camilla also visited the M&S Bank Arena to unveil the Eurovision Song Contest's staging. The final is set to take place there on Saturday, May 13.
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