Angelina Jolie tells how a drone flew over her during a visit to Mykolaiv and Kherson

«I travelled to Mykolaiv and Kherson in Ukraine this week to meet with families living on the frontline. The threat of drones was constant and severe. You can hear a quiet hum in the sky. There was a moment when we had to stop and wait for a drone to fly overhead. I was wearing protective gear and it was just a few days for me. Families here live with this every day,» Angelina Jolie wrote.

The actress noted that many schools, clinics and kindergartens in the region have been moved to fortified basements, and residents are determined to keep life going despite the danger. She added that conversations with locals showed her the psychological burden of the constant threat and the fear of being forgotten by the world.

«They have moved their schools, clinics and kindergartens to fortified basements, determined to keep life going. It was hard but inspiring to watch. Many people spoke to me about the psychological burden of living under constant threat — and the deeper fear of being forgotten by the world. It is hard to understand how, in a world with such strong diplomatic capacities, civilians in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, DRC and many other places suffer every day — as if those in power cannot do anything to end these conflicts and protect all civilians equally. I am encouraged by the incredible courage and skill of local organisations, volunteers and those who support them. If they can find the strength, governments must do the same,» Angelina Jolie added.

Angelina Jolie's visit to Mykolaiv region

Earlier, NikVesti reported that during Angelina Jolie's visit on 4 November, the actress's motorcade was stopped by employees of the territorial recruitment centre. A video was posted on social media showing Jolie in the Voznesenskyi district recruitment centre.

Later, it became known that an investigation would be conducted in Pivdenoukrainsk to determine how the video appeared in the public domain. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the man who was detained that day by the Territorial Recruitment Centre was a reserve officer and had no confirmed grounds for a deferment.

Later, it turned out that the detained man in the motorcade was a 33-year-old combat sambo coach from Kropyvnytskyi, Dmytro Pyshchykov. As reported by «Suspilne», he did not serve in the army, but has military training, passed the VLC in 2025 and was considered partially fit to serve in the TRC or rear units.

The family members note that the man was not travelling as Jolie's bodyguard, but as a volunteer from an NGO. According to his brother, Dmytro Pyshchykov has back problems, was not wanted and had all his documents with him.

Pyshchykov's girlfriend Yuliia Lotytska told journalists that after his detention, she lost contact with Dmytro. His phone is switched off and he does not respond to messages. Yuliia plans to come to Mykolaiv region to find out where her husband is and what happened to him.