'It's devastating': Angelina Jolie travels to Ukraine to visit war-affected children

Angelina Jolie visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv, located in the west of the country, on Saturday to meet with children affected by the war.

Jolie met with orphaned and displaced children, including several who were evacuated from Mariupol, at a time of heightened tension in Ukraine after Russia began its illegal invasion on February 24, reports América TV.

The images show the actress, a special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, entering a cafe in Lviv. The video was recorded by Maya Pidhorodetska, a Facebook user who shared it on her profile.

Angelina Jolie loves to drink coffee in #Lviv. And what are your favorite places for coffee? 💙💛

The main purpose of her visit is to help Ukraine! Thank you for your support, Ms. Jolie, and to everyone who is with the #Ukrainian people today!

Video source: Maya Pidhoretska pic.twitter.com/mebsa49HGg

— Natalia (@NatalieSmal) April 30, 2022

"The purpose of Angelina's visit is to bear witness to the human impact of the conflict and to support the civilian population," her spokeswoman said on Saturday, according to SkyNews. The actress praised the Ukrainians for their "resistance, courage and dignity". 

Jolie visited children in hospital who were injured in explosions from the invasion of Ukraine, as well as a center for children and youth with disabilities.

"Angelina is not intimidated by being with the Ukrainian people," added her spokeswoman. "She calls for the urgent creation of humanitarian corridors to enable the evacuation of civilians, the delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need, particularly children, and an end to attacks on civilians, in accordance with the laws of war."

At the end of March, Jolie made a surprise visit to a group of Ukrainian children admitted to the Bambino Gesú hospital in Rome. At that time, through her profiles on her social networks, the actress conveyed her concern for the uncertain future of these children, reports Access Hollywood.

"I pray for the end of this war. That is the only way to stop the suffering and the flight from the conflict zone. It is horrible to see that children pay the price, in lives lost, health injured and traumatized," said the actress at that time.