Russia has banned actors Ben Stiller and Sean Penn from visiting.
The Russian foreign ministry issued a statement announcing that officials, actors and others have been banned from entering Russia.
“In response to the ever-expanding personal sanctions by the G. Biden Administration against Russian citizens, against another group of persons from among members of the US Congress, high-ranking officials, representatives of the business and expert communities, as well as cultural figures (25 people), a ban on entry into the Russian Federation on a permanent basis,” the ministry stated.
In June, Stiller made headlines when he visited Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It’s a great honor for me,” Stiller said to Zelenskyy.
He added, “It’s really wonderful. You’re my hero.”
In case you missed it:
"You're my hero," Actor Ben Stiller tells Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy on Monday. Stiller met with Zelenskyy during a trip that included a stop in Irpin, the scene of heavy fighting early in the Russian invasion. pic.twitter.com/Z4Knospbv0
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 20, 2022
Penn also visited with Zelenskyy in June to discuss his documentary about the Russian invasion.
“From the first day of the full-scale invasion, he was in Kyiv and saw with his own eyes what Russian aggression is,” Zelenskyy said of Penn.
He added, “The whole world will soon be able to see the whole truth about the war thanks to his film. Sean, thank you for the support of our state and our people!”
Stiller and Penn are not the only celebrities to visit Ukraine, as IJR reported.
“[Ukraine] is grateful to Hollywood stars who, despite the danger, have visited us. [Sean Penn], [Liev Schreiber], Angelina Jolie, [Ben Stiller] you are more than just an inspiration to all of us,” the country’s department of defense tweeted.
The statement continues, “Millions around the world have heard the truth from you about the struggle of the [Ukrainian] people.”
However, celebrities have received their fair share of criticism for their visits.
NBC News reported on Sunday that Russia is preparing for an “energy attack” on Europe.
“Where Russia cannot do it by force of conventional weapons, it does so by force of energy weapons,” Zelenskyy said.
He added, “Russia is preparing for a decisive energy attack on all Europeans.”