Sean Penn Honoured with 'Iron Oscar' in Ukraine After Academy Awards Absence
Hollywood actor Sean Penn, aged 65, has been presented with a distinctive homemade Oscar in Ukraine, following his decision to forgo attending this year's Academy Awards ceremony. Penn secured the Best Supporting Actor accolade for his role in the film One Battle After Another, but he opted to travel to Kyiv instead of being present at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Emotional Gift from Ukrainian Railways CEO
Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Ukrainian Railways, ensured that Penn did not return to the United States without a token of appreciation. In a heartfelt gesture, Pertsovskyi crafted and bestowed upon the actor an 'Iron Oscar', fashioned from a railcar that had been damaged by Russian forces during the ongoing conflict. The unique award was presented during a meeting in Kyiv, where Penn was also photographed walking through the city streets and conferring with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his official office.
In a video shared on social media platform X, Pertsovskyi addressed Penn, stating, 'You're missing the Oscar. Plus, you gave the last one to the president. So, we made this one.' He elaborated, 'You said the metals survived, so we put some words here that are very special to us. It's not golden, but it's very real, and it's from the bottom of our hearts. It's important to us.' Visibly moved, Penn embraced Pertsovskyi and responded, 'These are all treasures, thank you.'
Symbolic Inscription and Deep Ties to Ukraine
The back of the Iron Oscar bears a poignant inscription: 'This steel once carried millions of people away from war. Then a Russian missile came. We did not melt it into a weapon. We forged it into gratitude — for you. For your talent. For your courage to stand with Ukraine.' This message underscores the symbolic significance of the award, transforming wartime debris into a tribute to Penn's advocacy.
Sean Penn has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, making multiple visits to the nation, including a trip to film a documentary about President Zelensky following Russia's invasion in 2022. The documentary, which portrays Zelensky's transition from comedian to wartime leader, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023. Through these interactions, Penn and Zelensky have developed what both describe as a close friendship.
A Ukrainian official commented to AFP, 'We can say that he's in Ukraine, but it's his personal visit; that's how he sees it, that he needs to be in Ukraine. He just wants to support Ukraine.' In 2025, Penn and rock star Bono further demonstrated their solidarity by urging Western nations to support Ukraine during the Cannes Film Festival, posing on the red carpet with Ukrainian soldiers.
Backlash Over Oscars Absence and Ceremony Highlights
Penn's absence from the Academy Awards sparked criticism on social media, with some users expressing frustration over winners not attending the ceremony. One user remarked, 'There should be a rule that whoever doesn't show up because they don't give a s**t about the award doesn't get it either, like in a raffle. Didn't come? Next on the list, please. [An] exception would be for health reasons. Sean Penn doesn't give a damn about this award.' Others questioned his priorities, with one inquiring, 'I can't stop thinking: What the F**K did Sean Penn have better to do than go to the Oscars???'
During the awards show, presenter Kieran Culkin humorously acknowledged Penn's non-attendance, joking, 'Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf.' This is not the first time Penn has missed major award ceremonies; he has previously skipped events where he was nominated, including this year's BAFTAs and Actor Awards, despite emerging victorious.
The 2026 Oscars saw several notable winners, with One Battle After Another taking home Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. Other key awards included Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, Best Actress for Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, and Best Animated Film for KPop Demon Hunters.
