Sean Penn receives symbolic Oscar made from Ukrainian war debris

Actor Sean Penn received a symbolic Oscar statuette from Ukraine on Sunday, fashioned from metal salvaged from a railway wagon damaged by Russian bombardment, after choosing to skip the Academy Awards ceremony to visit the war-affected country.

Penn, 65, won his third Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "Una battaglia dopo l'altra" (A Battle After Another) but was absent from the ceremony. Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi presented the statuette in a video, telling Penn: "You're missing the Oscars… So we made this. It's made from a railway wagon damaged by the Russians."

Penn traveled to Ukraine over the weekend instead of attending the Academy Awards gala in Los Angeles. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanked him for his support of Ukraine's cause "from the first day of the large-scale war," according to officials.

The actor has been a consistent supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago. Penn has visited the country multiple times during the conflict. In 2022, he donated one of his previous Oscars to President Zelensky as a gesture of solidarity.

The symbolic statuette was created by Ukraine's national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, which published the presentation video on social media. The metal used in the sculpture came from railway infrastructure damaged during Russian military operations.

Penn's decision to prioritize a visit to Ukraine over attending Hollywood's premier awards ceremony underscores his long-standing commitment to the country and its leadership during the ongoing conflict.