Sean Penn, Yermak visit Sloviansk, combat unit of 157th Mechanized Brigade
U.S. actor, screenwriter and producer Sean Penn, who skipped the Academy Awards ceremony to visit Ukraine, traveled to Donetsk region and visited a combat unit of the 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade currently deployed there.
"He spoke with our servicemen, expressed sincere support and gratitude for their courage, dedication and commitment to defending Ukraine. His visit is a sign that the world sees and appreciates our heroes, who day after day stand in defense of our country's freedom and independence. Such meetings inspire and remind us that even in the most difficult times we are not alone, and our bravery will not go unnoticed," the brigade said on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The post was accompanied by a photo of Penn near the entrance sign to the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk region. It shows that he was accompanied by Andriy Yermak, head of the committee on protection of victims of armed aggression, compensation mechanisms and European integration legal support for recovery at the Ukrainian National Bar Association, who previously served as head of the President's Office. Photos of Penn with Ukrainian servicemen were also published.
As reported, Penn arrived in Ukraine on March 16. Earlier, The New York Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the 65-year-old actor won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor but deliberately skipped the ceremony. It was his sixth Oscar nomination and third win.
Penn has spent significant time in Ukraine since 2022, when he filmed the documentary Superpower about Russia's invasion. In 2025, he appeared in the Ukrainian film anthology War Through the Eyes of Animals for a symbolic fee of $1.
He is also the founder of the CORE Response charity, which operates in Ukraine, and has been honored on Kyiv's Alley of Courage.
