Sean Penn acquired an “Oscar” constructed from the steel of a damaged Ukrainian railway carriage detonated by Russian missile hearth, days after he gained the precise award however skipped the real-life ceremony.
The duplicate statue — formed just like the official golden statuette however metal-coloured and flat — was offered to the actor by Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of Ukrainian Railways, who instructed Penn, “You’re lacking Oscars, so we made this one.”
“It’s not golden however it’s very actual and from the underside of our hearts,” Pertsovskyi instructed Penn.
“These are all treasures, thanks,” the actor responded.
Footage of the trade was posted on Instagram by Ukrainian Railways.
Penn, 65, gained the Oscar for finest supporting actor in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After One other, however didn’t attend Sunday’s ceremony. The win was the third in Penn’s profession, having beforehand taken house the Academy Award for finest actor in Mystic River (2004) and Milk (2009).
One Battle After One other gained six awards in whole, together with finest director and finest image.
Get breaking Nationwide information
Get breaking Canada information delivered to your inbox because it occurs so you will not miss a trending story.
The rationale for Penn’s absence from the ceremony got here to gentle on Monday when pictures of him strolling on the street in Kyiv, Ukraine, emerged on-line. A senior Ukrainian official instructed AFP the actor was in Ukraine to point out help to the war-torn nation.
Sean Penn walks down a road in Kyiv on March 16, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He’s in Ukraine to point out help to the war-torn nation, a senior Ukrainian official instructed AFP.
Genya SAVILOV / AFP by way of Getty Photographs
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared {a photograph} of himself and the actor on X. Within the publish, he wrote, “Sean, due to you, we all know what a real good friend of Ukraine is.”
“You’ve stood with Ukraine because the first day of the full-scale struggle. That is nonetheless true right this moment. And we all know that you’ll proceed to face with our nation and our folks.”
Penn has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2024 and a staunch supporter of Zelenskyy from the beginning of the struggle, and has visited the nation a number of instances previously 4 years.
In 2022, as a gesture of goodwill, Penn loaned certainly one of his Oscars to the president, telling him, “That is for you. It’s only a symbolic foolish factor, but when I do know that is right here with you then I’ll really feel higher and stronger for the battle.”
“While you win, carry it again to Malibu. I’ll really feel significantly better understanding a chunk of me is right here.”
Zelenskyy referred to as the Oscars rtrophy “a logo of religion within the victory of our nation,” and has posted several images of the pair in Ukraine collectively since then, the place he thanked the embellished actor for documenting “the occasions in our nation” and telling “the world the reality about Russian aggression.”
In February, Penn gained a BAFTA for his position in One Battle After One other, however was not on the ceremony.
He was additionally nominated for Finest Efficiency by a Male Actor in a Supporting Position in Any Movement Image on the Golden Globes, the place he was in attendance.
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
