Sean Penn has shared a video from Ukraine as he carries out humanitarian work for those left displaced amid the Russian invasion.
"I was in Lviv, Ukraine today with CORE Co-Founder and CEO @annyounglee and our team, strategizing with local governance & NGO’s to scale up our in-country programs," the two-time Oscar winner wrote on social media on Monday.
"Had a very good meeting with Gov. Maksym Kozytskyy,” he added.
It comes days after Mr Penn, 62, said he would smelt the Oscar he won for the biopic Milk in public if Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to speak at the ceremony.
The actor, who is currently in Ukraine creating a documentary about the ongoing invasion, told CNN: “There is nothing greater that the Academy Awards could do than to give [Zelenskiy] an opportunity to talk to all of us.
“It is my understanding that a decision has been made not to do it. That is not me commenting on whether or not President Zelensky had wanted to.”
He suggested that if the Academy had “elected not to pursue the leadership in Ukraine, who are taking bullets and bombs for us, along with the Ukrainian children that they are trying to protect, then I think every single one of those people and every bit of that decision will have been the most obscene moment in all of Hollywood history”.
Mr Penn called for people to boycott the event should it be confirmed that no approach to Mr Zelensky had been made.
“If it comes back to it, I will smelt mine in public,” he said. “I pray that’s not what’s happened. I pray there have not been arrogant people, who consider themselves representatives of the greater good in my industry, that have [decided against checking] with leadership in Ukraine. So I’m just going to hope that that’s not what’s happened. I hope [every attender] walks out if it is.”
The Hollywood star has been actively involved in humanitarian projects throughout the years, including founding the non-profit organisation CORE (Community Organised Relief Effort) in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
The 94th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood on Sunday night. Mr Zelensky did not make an appearance.
