American actor Sean Penn, recently awarded an Oscar, traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, foregoing the awards ceremony.
Penn Opts for Ukraine Instead of the Oscars
American actor Sean Penn, who received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor on Sunday night/Monday morning, traveled to Kyiv where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The actor did not personally accept the award from the American Film Academy.
Penn chose Ukraine over the Oscars, meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy’s Message to Penn
“Thanks to you, Sean, we know how real friends of Ukraine look. You are with Ukraine from the first day of the full-scale war. And today. And we know that you will be with our country and our people further,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
Ukrzaliznycia Facilitates Penn’s Arrival
Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznycia, also reported the actor’s arrival. Penn arrived in Kyiv by their train, likely from Poland. “We can keep secrets, which is why we kept silent about this journey until the last moment. Now we are officially saying: Sean Penn chose Ukraine instead of the Oscars! And he arrived with Ukrzaliznycia to Kyiv,” the carrier stated.
A Symbolic Gift from Ukrainian Railways
The head of Ukrainian Railways also presented the actor with an “Oscar” made of metal from a railway car damaged by Russian shelling.
Penn’s Ongoing Support for Ukraine
Sean Penn was awarded an Oscar. The actor has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. He received recognition from the American Film Academy for his role in “All Quiet on the Western Front.” This is his third Oscar.
Penn’s Presence at the Start of the Invasion
The actor was in Ukraine on February 24th, the day Russia’s invasion began, and was in Kyiv for filming. A plaque with Sean Penn’s name and the date February 24, 2022, has been placed on the Walk of Courage in the Ukrainian capital.
Russian Attacks Claim Civilian Lives
On Tuesday, Ukrainian local authorities reported at least seven deaths and 24 injuries in Russian attacks. “Five people died in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region in the east of the country. Another six were injured,” Vadym Filashkin, head of the military administration of the region, wrote on Telegram. “Russia is killing civilians,” he emphasized. Two people were killed in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine.
Drone Strikes Target Civilians in Sumy Region
Media reports indicate that Russians are conducting drone hunts for civilians in the Sumy region. According to a police statement, a drone killed a truck driver transporting grain in one of the region’s municipalities. Another Russian army drone struck a motorcyclist, who died at the scene. A total of at least eight people were injured in the Sumy region as a result of the drone attacks.
Attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk Regions
In Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine, Russian forces attacked a terminal belonging to the private logistics operator Nova Poshta, injuring eight employees. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two civilians were injured in Russian attacks.
Infrastructure Targeted in Odesa Region
In the Odesa region, southern Ukraine, Russian troops targeted energy infrastructure facilities, enterprises, and ports on the Black Sea. There were no reports of injuries, but authorities reported power outages in some areas.
Ukrainian Air Defense Efforts
The Ukrainian Air Force reported in its Tuesday morning report that Russians used 178 attack drones of various types. 154 were shot down or neutralized, but 22 drone strikes were recorded, and debris from two fell to the ground.
