Angelina Jolie visits Ukraine, intervenes in bodyguard's military enlistment mid-trip
What's the story
Hollywood actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie recently made an unannounced visit to Kherson, a frontline city in southern Ukraine. This marks her second trip to the war-torn country since Russia's invasion began. The visit came just days after recent drone strikes on Kherson. During her time there, she reportedly had to intervene when one of her local bodyguards was drafted into the Ukrainian Army mid-trip.
Activities
Jolie visits hospitals, meets soldier during Kherson trip
Photos of Jolie wearing a bulletproof vest bearing Ukrainian insignia were shared on social media on Wednesday. The images showed her visiting children's hospitals and maternity wards, as well as posing with a Ukrainian soldier. Reports suggest that she had to visit the conscription office to secure the release of her bodyguard, who was drafted during their trip.
Twitter Post
Twitter Post
Angelina Jolie arrives in Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, flanked by local bodyguards
— RT (@RT_com) November 5, 2025
One of them reportedly gets drafted by the Ukrainian army mid-trip
Ukrainian media claimshe goes to a conscription office to get him released, caught on CCTV pic.twitter.com/fo6VTBuecK
City background
Kherson continues to face daily Russian bombardment
Kherson, which was briefly under Russian occupation in 2022, continues to face daily Russian bombardment. It is located on the opposite bank of the Dnieper River from the Russian army. Despite the ongoing conflict and danger, Jolie's visit underscores her commitment to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The actor served as a UN Special Envoy for Refugees from 2012 to 2022.
Career highlights
Jolie's first visit to Ukraine and upcoming projects
Jolie had earlier visited Ukraine a few months after Russia's invasion began, where she met displaced persons in Lviv. Meanwhile, on the professional front, she was last seen in Couture, portraying an American filmmaker. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. Her last theatrical release was 2024's Maria, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Her next project, Anxious People, is currently in production.