Russia’s foreign minister on Monday released a list of 25 new names to be banned from the country in response to the “ever-expanding personal sanctions by the Biden administration against Russian citizens.” Stiller and Penn are both included, along with political figures such as Senators Mark Kelly, Rick Scott and Kyrsten Sinema. Stiller, the UNHCR ambassador, visited Ukraine in June and posted a video on Instagram in solidarity with the refugees of the conflict, saying: “No one chooses to leave their homes. Seeking security is a right and must be respected for every person.” Stiller also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, telling him, “You’re my hero.” ‘You’re my hero’: Ben Stiller meets Volodymyr Zelensky on trip to Ukraine – video Penn has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and Zelensky, having been in the country making a documentary as the Russian invasion began in February. Penn later made a series of television appearances in April to call for US solidarity with Ukraine and called for US fighter jets to be delivered to the country. He also said that he had considered joining the fight against Russia. They join a longer list of more than a thousand names of US citizens sanctioned by Russia. These include mainly political and military figures (including President Biden and Hillary Clinton, but not Donald Trump), but also some Hollywood names, including executives Jeffrey Katzenberg and Peter Kramer, director Rob Reiner and actor Morgan Freeman.
