Oscar-winner Sean Penn is in Ukraine for a personal visit to show support and is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky.
KYIV: Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn is currently in Ukraine on a personal visit to show support for the war-torn country, according to a senior Ukrainian official.
The official confirmed to AFP that Penn, who just won his third acting Oscar for best supporting actor in ‘One Battle After Another’, had chosen to be in Ukraine rather than attend the ceremony.
Penn, a vocal advocate for Ukraine who has visited the country several times, reportedly feels a personal need to be there to offer his support.
The official added that the actor is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Monday.
A second source told AFP that Penn is also planning to visit the front lines in eastern Ukraine during his trip.
Penn co-directed a 2023 documentary about Zelensky’s transformation from comedian to war leader following Russia’s 2022 invasion, which premiered at the Berlin film festival.
The filmmaking process led to what both Penn and Zelensky have described as a close friendship between them.
In 2025, Penn and U2 frontman Bono made a passionate appeal for Western support for Ukraine on the red carpet at the Cannes film festival, posing for photographs with Ukrainian soldiers.
