Sean Penn gets unique gift in Ukraine: Details
Photo: Sean Penn (Getty Images)
Hollywood actor Sean Penn, who skipped the Oscars ceremony to visit Ukraine, received a special gift styled after the movie award. The statuette symbolizes resilience, humanity, and courage, according to Ukrzaliznytsia’s Instagram.
Sean Penn receives an "Oscar" in Ukraine
A video has appeared online showing the actor receiving a special gift during his visit to Kyiv. Representatives of Ukrzaliznytsia presented him with an "Oscar" statuette. However, it was not made of gold.
"Sean Penn didn't leave without an Oscar — he received one from Ukrzaliznytsia! Thank you for supporting Ukraine, for being with us and choosing to stand with us here," the statement said.
The Ukrainian version of the award was made from the steel of a train car damaged by a Russian attack.
Oscar 2026 win
On the night of March 16, the 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles. Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another.
This is already the third Oscar of the actor’s career. However, he was unable to accept it in person, so his colleague Kieran Culkin took the stage instead. He announced that the actor "couldn’t be here this evening, or didn’t want to." It later emerged that Sean skipped the ceremony due to his visit to Ukraine.
During his trip, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who shared a photo with the actor and thanked him for his long-standing support.
"Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is. You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people," Zelenskyy said.
Sean Penn met with Zelenskyy (photo: instagram.com/zelenskyy_official)
Ukrainian singer and head of the Cultural Forces initiative Mykola Serha also spoke emotionally about the actor’s visit. He shared a photo with the star and highlighted the importance of his support.
"He wasn’t in the hall (at the Oscars - ed.) because he was where he was most needed, where his support helps people hold on, and where the value of his presence is measured not by camera flashes and bright smiles, but by the faith and inspiration of people fighting to bring light into a world overshadowed by darkness," he said.
Kolia Serha with Sean Penn (photo: instagram.com/thekolya)
Back in November 2022, Penn gave one of his Oscars to the President of Ukraine as a symbol of faith in victory.
“This award goes beyond achievements in cinema. It honors the resilience, humanity, and courage that keep all of us moving forward,” Ukrzaliznytsia representatives added.
