Sean Penn spotted in bunker in Kyiv, Ukraine

An Oscar-winning star has been forced underground in Kyiv as missiles and bombings continue throughout the city.

Politically active actor Sean Penn has been spotted in the first row of a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, where high-ranking Ukrainian officials were discussing the Russian invasion.

The 61-year-old Hollywood heavyweight has apparently been working on a documentary about escalating tensions in the country since last year, Vice Studios confirmed to Variety. He flew to Ukraine early this week to get a first-hand look at the war.

Wearing sunglasses, Penn appeared to be listening closely to the briefing held at the President’s Office, although it remains unknown whether he speaks Ukrainian, Page Six reports.

He was later spotted in a bunker as attacks continued throughout the city.

People you meet down in the bomb bunker in the Hyatt. @SeanPennpic.twitter.com/4oo3gkbqMp

— misha (@mishazelinsky) February 25, 2022

“We’re ok here. Everyone is safe and together. We’re waiting to hear more,” Australian Workers’ Union representative Misha Zelinsky said on Twitter, after posting a photo with the Hollywood star.

“It’s a really secure area, and everything is going to be fine. We’re getting reports of missiles and bombings in the city and troops advancing on the city in Kyiv. But we don’t know more than that.”

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Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv. Picture: Reuters

Penn has already spoken to the deputy prime minister and military members since landing, Newsweek reported.

“Sean Penn demonstrates the courage that many others, especially Western politicians lack. The more such people in our country now, true friends of Ukraine, who support the struggle for freedom, the sooner it will be possible to stop Russia’s treacherous attack,” the Ukrainian embassy told Newsweek in a translated statement, expressing its gratitude for his visit and approval of the documentary.

The Ukrainian embassy expressed their thanks for Penn’s visit. Picture: Reuters

Last November, the actor was seen wearing a flak jacket and helmet to talk to fighters on the border of Russia and Ukraine, months before war officially broke out.

A rep for Vice Media told The Post that Penn is working on the documentary with Vice Studios and its news team.

The two-time Oscar winner has a reputation for showing up to danger zones. He went to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where he was photographed rescuing people stranded by the storm.

He also went to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and helped refugees there. And the actor once dined with infamous drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, conducting a secret interview with him.

Representatives for Penn did not immediately return a request for comment.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission