Sean Penn Receives Special 'Oscar' in Ukraine After Skipping Academy Awards

The actor was gifted a symbolic Oscar made from a damaged railway car by Ukraine's state rail group.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 5:12am

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Actor Sean Penn was awarded a symbolic 'Oscar' by Ukraine after missing the Academy Awards ceremony to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia presented Penn with the award, which was made from the metal of a railway car damaged by Russian shelling, as a 'symbol of resilience.' Penn, who has won two previous Oscars, previously gifted one of his statuettes to Zelensky during a visit to Ukraine.

Why it matters

Sean Penn's decision to skip the Oscars in favor of meeting with President Zelensky underscores his ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. The symbolic Oscar award from Ukraine's state rail company highlights the country's appreciation for Penn's advocacy and solidarity.

The details

When Kieran Culkin announced at the Academy Awards that Sean Penn had won Best Supporting Actor, Penn was not present, having opted to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instead of attending the Hollywood ceremony. Zelensky later posted a photo of the two together on social media, thanking Penn for his continued support of Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Ukraine's state rail group, Ukrzaliznytsia, also honored Penn by gifting him a special Oscar made from the metal of a railway car damaged by Russian shelling, calling it a 'symbol of resilience.'

  • On March 17, 2026, Sean Penn was gifted the symbolic Oscar by Ukraine's state rail company.
  • In 2023, Penn and director Aaron Kaufman released a documentary called 'Superpower' about Ukraine and Zelensky amid the Russian invasion.

The players

Sean Penn

An American actor who has won two previous Oscars for Best Actor, for his roles in 'Mystic River' in 2004 and 'Milk' in 2009. Penn has spent significant time in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022 and has been a vocal supporter of the country.

Volodymyr Zelensky

The President of Ukraine, who has worked closely with Sean Penn and appreciated his continued support for the country since the start of the Russian invasion.

Ukrzaliznytsia

Ukraine's state rail group, which gifted Sean Penn a symbolic Oscar made from the metal of a railway car damaged by Russian shelling as a 'symbol of resilience.'

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine

“When you win, bring it back to Malibu. Because I'll feel much better knowing there's a piece of me here.”

— Sean Penn

What’s next

The Ukrainian railway company's gesture of gifting Sean Penn the symbolic Oscar is a meaningful show of appreciation for his support, and it remains to be seen if Penn will continue his advocacy efforts for Ukraine in the future.

The takeaway

Sean Penn's decision to prioritize meeting with President Zelensky over attending the Academy Awards ceremony underscores his deep commitment to supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The symbolic Oscar award from Ukraine's state rail company is a powerful testament to the country's gratitude for Penn's solidarity and advocacy.