American actor Sean Penn received an Oscar-like statuette made from rail metal salvaged from Ukraine following the war with Russia.
Penn missed the 98th Academy Awards on March 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. He had won Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, and actor Kieran Culkin accepted the award on the 65-year-old’s behalf.
According to BBC, Penn was instead photographed in Kyiv.
In a viral video from March 17, Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi presented Penn with a statuette resembling an Oscar, made from metal from a train hit by Russian forces. Pertsovskyi said, “You’re missing Oscars… So we made this one. This is from the railcar that was damaged by the Russians.”
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a picture of their meeting, captioning, “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.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Penn has consistently used his platform to support Ukraine and its leadership.
The three-time Academy Award winner is recognized for Mystic River (2004), Milk (2009), and One Battle After Another (2025). He has even gifted one of his Oscars to Ukraine as a symbol of support.
Speaking to Variety in 2023, Penn said, “I’ll give them to Ukraine. They can be melted down to bullets they can shoot at the Russians.” The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, escalating into a full-scale invasion in February 2022. As of March 2026, the conflict remains active, with heavy fighting and shifting frontlines.
Fans shared their reactions online. Iryna Iva on Instagram wrote, “Some things can’t be measured in awards – his mindset, his standards and his values go far beyond another Oscar speech or after party. Truly admirable.” Another user, Gurshal, added, “Big thanks to Mister Sean Penn for supporting Ukraine and congratulations for the third Oscars win.”