Sean Penn receives symbolic award from Ukrainian railway carriage

Actor Sean Penn, 65, was presented with a symbolic ‘Oscar’ made from the metal of a Ukrainian railway carriage destroyed by a Russian missile. This gesture followed his absence from the official Academy Awards ceremony, where he won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another.’ The award, a flat, metal-coloured replica of the traditional golden statuette, was given to Penn by Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of Ukrainian Railways, who remarked on Penn’s multiple Oscar wins. Penn expressed gratitude for the meaningful gesture. Photographs and footage of the presentation were shared on social media by Ukrainian Railways. The actor’s absence from the Oscars was explained by his presence in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he has been actively supporting the country since Russia’s invasion in February 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly thanked Penn for his solidarity, describing him as a true friend of Ukraine. Over the past four years, Penn has visited Ukraine several times, loaned one of his Oscars to the president as a symbol of encouragement, and documented the ongoing war. This unique award highlights both Penn’s humanitarian efforts and the symbolic support of cultural icons for Ukraine amid the conflict.