Jolie Visits Kharkiv Schools During Active Conflict

Angelina Jolie confirmed on September 16 that she visited Kharkiv during a trip to Ukraine in late August, marking her third journey to the country since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to reports from the Kyiv Independent, the actress met with educators and coaches who have maintained their roles despite the ongoing targeting of civilian sites. Her presence in the city, which sits close to the Russian border and experiences frequent strikes, underscored the resilience of local institutions operating under severe constraints.

During her stay, Jolie observed how schools have adapted to the security environment by relocating classrooms into metro stations and other underground spaces. She described seeing young children learning in facilities located several stories below ground, a measure taken to protect students from near-daily attacks. The visit also included a sports studio in the North Saltivka district, an area heavily affected by shelling, where young athletes continued their training routines.

Education Continues Underground

The adaptation of educational infrastructure has become a defining feature of life in border regions. Jolie noted that some schools are fully subterranean, forcing students to conduct their daily activities in basements and tunnels. This shift reflects a broader pattern across Ukraine, where medical and educational institutions have moved underground to mitigate risks. In previous visits, including one to the southern cities of Kherson and Mykolaiv, similar adaptations were documented, such as the use of protective netting on roads to shield civilians from drone debris.

Beyond traditional schooling, the trip included stops at inclusive art studios where children with learning disabilities created artwork. Jolie highlighted the freedom and creativity observed in these settings, noting the importance of maintaining cultural and personal development opportunities for young people even in hostile environments. These visits aim to draw international attention to the specific challenges faced by educators and families in maintaining normalcy amidst war.

Visits to Families and Memorials

Jolie’s itinerary extended beyond urban centers to the Carpathian region, where she met with women who have taken on the responsibility of raising children alone. These women are actively campaigning for the release of their husbands from Russian captivity, a group that has grown significantly since the invasion began. The actress also paid respects to the family of Oleksii Yukov, a leader of a body recovery group in eastern Ukraine, who was killed during an exhumation mission near the front line in early August.

Social media reports suggest the trip included stops in other parts of the country. Telegram channels claimed she visited Lviv in the west and Kremenchuk in central Poltava Oblast, sharing images that appeared to show the actress at these locations. Additionally, a restaurant in Ternopil shared CCTV footage from late August showing a woman resembling Jolie entering the venue, indicating a broader tour of Ukrainian cities during the same period.

Context of Repeated Visits

This is Jolie’s third documented visit to Ukraine since the start of the current conflict, following trips in spring 2022 and fall 2025. Each visit has focused on meeting civilians directly affected by the war, providing a consistent narrative of solidarity and observation. By returning to sites that have been repeatedly targeted, she emphasizes the long-term nature of the impact on communities. The repeated nature of these visits also serves to keep international focus on the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict, particularly regarding the protection of children and cultural institutions.