Local Driver Mobilized During Angelina Jolie's Kherson Visit

A recent humanitarian visit by Hollywood actress and former UN Special Envoy Angelina Jolie to Ukraine's frontline Kherson region was marked by an unexpected incident when a local driver accompanying her entourage was reportedly detained and mobilized by Ukrainian military recruiters. The event, widely reported on November 5 and 6, 2025, occurred as Jolie toured medical facilities and met with war-affected civilians in the southern Ukrainian city.

Reports indicate that the driver, identified as a Ukrainian citizen and military reservist, was stopped at a checkpoint in the Mykolaiv region. He was subsequently found to have no valid grounds for deferment from military service. The original tweet detailing the incident stated, "Angelina Jolie paid a visit to Ukraine for a photo op that went awry when her bodyguard was unexpectedly detained by a military press gang and mobilized to fight in the front lines."

Following the detention, Jolie reportedly intervened, with some accounts suggesting she visited the conscription office in person to secure the driver's release. Russian state news agency TASS even alleged that Jolie contacted President Volodymyr Zelensky's office regarding the matter. Ukrainian ground forces later confirmed an incident involving a driver from Jolie's group but clarified that neither Jolie nor her team interfered with the military's operations.

The incident highlights Ukraine's intensified efforts to bolster its military ranks amidst ongoing conflict, with conscription practices drawing international scrutiny. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, for instance, previously described these practices as an "open manhunt." Despite the disruption, Jolie, who wore a bulletproof vest with Ukrainian insignia during her visit, continued her humanitarian mission, meeting with children and new mothers in hospitals.

This marks Jolie's second visit to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began, her first being in April 2022. Her continued presence aims to draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis and provide support to the civilian population in war-torn areas like Kherson, which remains under daily Russian bombardment. The driver was ultimately ordered to undergo military retraining and mobilization.