30 May 2026
(Angelina Jolie. PHOTO: nv.ua)
Giles Dooley, a British photographer, humanitarian and CBE, admitted that it was he who advised American actress Angelina Jolie to visit Kherson during her trip to Ukraine. According to him, only in a frontline city can one truly understand how the war affects the lives of civilians.
Giles Dooley said this in an interview with NV.
According to the photographer, on the eve of her trip to Ukraine, Angelina Jolie asked him to recommend a place worth seeing. In response, he recommended Kherson to her, as it was there, in his opinion, that the realities of life near the front line were best seen. He explained that ambulances of the Legacy of War Foundation operate in Kherson, so he was sure that the actress would be safe during the trip.
He emphasized that the actress is very supportive of Ukraine, visited the country shortly after the outbreak of full-scale war and is particularly interested in the psychological impact of war on children. According to him, she regularly asks him to share stories about the experiences of Ukrainians.
According to him, the main motivation for Angelina Jolie 's visit to Kherson and Mykolaiv region was the desire to see the situation personally in order to continue to support Ukraine and help not publicly, but with real actions.
After the trip, the photographer received numerous messages, including from the military on the front line, who noted that the actress's presence in Kherson was an important signal of support for them. He emphasized that the actress was able to see the conditions of life under the constant threat of attacks, including anti-drone nets.
The photographer also stated that the events in Kherson remain one of the most underestimated topics of the Russian-Ukrainian war. He noted that the events there show the true nature of Russian aggression: the occupiers attack civilians, ambulances and medical teams working in the city. According to him, it was important for her to realize this personally.
When asked about Jolie's impressions after the trip, the photographer said that the actress was deeply moved by what she saw, especially by the fate of children and young mothers.
In addition, he said that he first heard about Kherson before his trip to Ukraine in 2010, when he was told that it was the place where the best watermelons could be found.
The actress visited Kherson in November 2025. The first time the actress came was in the spring of 2022, when she visited Lviv.
Against the backdrop of what she saw, the actress expressed surprise and pain that in today's world, which has a strong diplomatic potential, civilians in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, DR Congo and many other hotspots suffer daily.
Анна Бальчінос