US actor Ben Stiller tweeted his public support for Ukraine on Tuesday, seemingly in response to being sanctioned by Russia.
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that the Zoolander star had been permanently banned from entering the country.
But the announcement did not seem to upset Stiller, who posted a picture of a coffee mug with the phrase “I love Lviv” inscribed on it and accompanied with the caption, “Good morning”.
Stiller, a UN global ambassador, visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv in June after meeting refugees in Poland earlier in the day. He also visited the city of Irpin in Ukraine,
“Millions have been forced to flee their homes with over 90 per cent being women and children. I’m here to learn, to share stories that illustrate the human impact of war and to amplify calls for solidarity,” he said in an Instagram post at the time.
On the same trip, he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Stiller called his hero.
“What you've done and the way you've rallied the country and the world, it's really inspiring,” he told Mr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
Actor Sean Penn was also a target of Russia's latest round of sanctions, the country's foreign ministry said.
Penn, a two-time Oscar winner, was filming a documentary in Ukraine about the war in February when he and millions of others were forced to flee to Poland by foot. He has since become a vocal supporter of Mr Zelenskyy.
Penn has yet to publicly comment on being sanctioned by Moscow.
The latest list also includes US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and six US senators.
Other Americans previously sanctioned by Moscow include President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and actor Morgan Freeman.
This came in response to Washington's sanctioning of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his daughters and others close to him as well as a number of oligarchs over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin has called a “special military operation”.
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US Actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie comforts a young victim of the Kramatorsk railway station missile strike in Lviv children's hospital, in Western Ukraine on April 30, 2022. EPA -
This handout picture taken on August 7, 2022 shows the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, posing with US actress Jessica Chastain before a meeting in Kyiv. AFP PHOTO / Ukrainian Presidential press-service -
Jolie interacts with a child at the main railway station during her visit to Lviv. Reuters -
Zelenskyy, right, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ben Stiller shake hands during their meeting in Kyiv on June 20, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP -
Stiller walks past a damaged building as he visits the Lypki neighbourhood in Irpin, Ukraine. Reuters -
US President Joe Biden, right, stands with Spanish chef Jose Andres, founder of nonprofit organisation World Food Kitchen (WCK), after meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland on March 26, 2022. AFP -
Jose Andres is seen on a screen giving a pre-recorded acceptance speech for receiving The Sophia Award for Excellence 2022 from Ukraine, while he works there to feed those affected by the war on March 31, 2022. EPA -
US actor and director Liev Schreiber prepares meals in the kitchen of the World Central Kitchen, for war refugees from Ukraine staying in Przemysl, Poland on April 15, 2022. EPA -
Sean Penn attends a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Reuters -
Zelenskyy, centre, talking with Sean Penn, right, next to President's office head Andriy Yermak during their meeting in Kyiv on June 28, 2022. AFP PHOTO / Ukraine's presidential press-service
