-Angelina Jolie Visits Mykolaiv and Kherson on the Ukrainian Frontline with the Legacy of War Foundation
She spent time with medical staff, families and volunteers, who continue their daily lives under the constant presence of drones, the threat of shelling, and landmines that make large areas unsafe to return to. She saw how in some parts of the city, netting has been placed above public roads to try to provide a measure of protection against drone attack.
In response to the constant threat, medical care and education have moved into reinforced underground spaces, to enable treatment and learning to continue with a greater degree of protection. Angelina spent time witnessing this work - a reminder of both the human cost of conflict and the resilience of those who continue to endure it.
Angelina said: “The people of Mykolaiv and Kherson live with danger every day, but they refuse to give in. At time when governments around the world are turning their backs on the protection of civilians, their strength, and their support for each other is humbling. After nearly four years of conflict, exhaustion is visible, yet so too is determination. Families want safety, peace, and the chance to rebuild their lives.”
She added: “The people of Mykolaiv and Kherson are among many communities living through prolonged conflict worldwide, including civilian populations in Sudan, Gaza, and the DRC. Each situation has its own history, but the human experience is familiar: displacement, loss, and the daily effort to preserve dignity. Diplomacy and the protection of civilians should not be allowed to fall away in a brutal contest of weapons and technology”.
She thanked the many local organisations she was able to meet, and the Legacy of War Foundation, for their support throughout her visit.
Images available here:
Photo credit: Legacy of War Foundation
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ODJN18hdjrq_8h0v5IvSeHGPJbUxiYXj?usp=sharing
Information on Legacy of War Foundation:
Founded by Giles Duley in 2017 Legacy of War Foundation (LoWF) was set up to do things differently: working directly with communities and local partners to support people as they rebuild in the aftermath of armed conflict.
Since 2022, LoWF has helped over 10,000 Ukrainians in frontline areas to access primary healthcare and diagnostics within their own communities; distributed over in $450,000 in grants and more than 30 tonnes of aid; and funded specialist support to women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people affected by the war. In 2025 the organisation launched a new pilot program to train amputees as qualified prosthetics technicians.
