Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Meme matters: Angelina Jolie's driver taken by Ukraine army goes viral on net

FILE: Angelina Jolie at the Rome Film Festival at the screening for 'Couture' 18 Oct 2025
FILE: Angelina Jolie at the Rome Film Festival at the screening for 'Couture' 18 Oct 2025 Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Serge Duchêne
Published on Updated
Share Comments
Share Close Button

The famous Hollywood actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador visited the Ukrainian cities of Mykolaïv and Kherson this week. Her trip was marred by a row with the Territorial Recruitment Centre - but the internet was delighted.

'No good deed goes unpunished' is meant to be a humorous expression in English that suggests when someone does something kind for someone else, they end up facing problems or criticism as a result.

Well, the cynics and comedians had a field day this week as Angelina Jolie paid a visit to the Ukrainian cities of Mykolaïv and Kherson.

The trip, organised by the international charity Legacy of War Foundation, enabled the actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to meet carers, volunteers and residents. She also visited medical and educational facilities, as well as underground structures protected from the bombardments.

This is the actress' second visit to Ukraine; in April 2022, she travelled to Lviv as part of a humanitarian mission and met injured children, displaced persons and volunteers.

The famous American actress Angelina Jolie has returned to Ukraine.
The famous American actress Angelina Jolie has returned to Ukraine. Legacy of War Foundation

Driving Ms Jolie

According to media reports, however, Jolie did not inform the Ukrainian authorities of her arrival and even crossed the border on foot. Kyiv has made no official comment on this trip.

Perhaps as a result, her motorcade was stopped by employees of the Territorial Recruitment Centre (TTsK in Ukrainian) during her visit to Mykolaïv, as this video is supposed to show.

"Angelina Jolie and her bodyguard at the Ukrainian TTsK".

One of the Ukrainians accompanying the actress was stopped by TTsK agents. The Ukrainian Land Forces Command told the UNIAN agency that the man, born in 1992, did not have the required documents and was therefore taken into custody.

On the spot, it was established that he was a reserve officer and had no grounds for exemption from military service, the military said.

The incident was quickly picked up by meme-makers, and as news spread these images went viral on the web. Here are just a few.

"See you at TTsK, darling!"
"See you at TTsK, darling! Facebook Artem Chapeye

Brad Pitt, whose acrimonious divorce from Jolie has been the talk of the celebrity press, is shown here as the head of the Recruitment Centre.

"Angelina Jolie has joined the Ukrainian armed forces! Meanwhile, you, the refractory, are hiding out at home on the run from the TTsK/CTR""

"And where are you going like this," - "In the Kherson TTsK, baby"
"And where are you going like that," - "To the Kherson TTsK, baby" Memagram

"Lara Croft, a mobilisation reserve thief": we refer to her film Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.
"Lara Croft, a mobilisation reserve thief": we refer to her film Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. Oboz UA

"Not Ms. Smith - Private Smitenko": A joke based on the title of the film where she met Brad Pitt, 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith'
"Not Ms. Smith - Private Smitenko": A joke based on the title of the film where she met Brad Pitt, 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' Novosti-N

Additional sources • Meduza, Ukraïnska Pravda

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share Comments

Read more