Sean Penn may have won “One Battle After Another,” but instead of celebrating in Hollywood, he was showing up for a different kind of battle overseas.
The actor skipped the 2026 Academy Awards, where he earned his third Oscar, and traveled to Ukraine instead. While he wasn’t at the Dolby Theatre to accept the honor, he was recognized in a different and deeply meaningful way.
Penn was presented with an honorary award dubbed the “Iron Oscar,” a symbolic gesture that quickly caught attention for both its message and its origin.
A Different Kind of Award With Real Meaning
The honorary statuette was presented by Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, who shared the moment on social media. “Sean Penn opted for the trip to 🇺🇦 vs. Oscar ceremony… where he was awarded his 3rd,” Pertsovskyi wrote.
Rather than letting the moment pass, they created something unique. “We couldn’t leave our great friend… without an award. So, I have presented Sean with our IronOscar,” he added.
The award itself carries powerful symbolism. It was made from metal taken from a train damaged during the ongoing war. While presenting it, Pertsovskyi told Penn, “You’re missing Oscars. Plus, you gave the last one to the president. So we made this one,” adding, “It’s not golden, but it’s very real, and it’s from the bottom of our hearts. It’s important to us,” according to People.
Penn appeared visibly grateful, embracing Pertsovskyi after receiving the award.
Back in Los Angeles, actor Kieran Culkin accepted Penn’s official Oscar for Best Supporting Actor on his behalf. “Sean couldn’t be here this evening — or didn’t want to be — so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf,” Culkin said during the ceremony.
A Longstanding Commitment Beyond Hollywood
Penn’s presence in Ukraine is not new. His connection to the country dates back to 2022, when he traveled there to film the documentary “Superpower” and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just before the war began, per The Independent.
Since then, he has remained one of Ukraine’s most consistent public supporters. Zelenskyy recently acknowledged that support, writing, “We know what a true friend of Ukraine is,” and adding, “You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war… This is still true today.”
Penn has also made symbolic gestures in the past, including gifting one of his own Oscars to Zelenskyy in 2022. At the time, he said, “I’ll give them to Ukraine… They can be melted down to bullets they can shoot at the Russians,” per People.
This latest moment adds to that ongoing relationship, showing that for Penn, recognition goes beyond awards shows and red carpets.
“It’s not golden, but it’s very real.”
