Ukraine bans Game of Thrones episodes with Russian actor – media

Kiev has blacklisted Yury Kolokolnikov designating him as a threat to national security

Ukrainian streaming platforms have begun removing episodes from the Game of Thrones fourth season featuring a Russian actor, according to local media reports. The move follows a decision by Ukraine’s Culture Ministry to blacklist Yury Kolokolnikov, whose global profile has risen in recent years.

In August, the ministry added Yury Kolokolnikov to the list of individuals allegedly posing a threat to Kiev’s national security. It noted that the actor, who also works as a director and producer, had appeared in films reportedly financed by the Russian state budget.

Several other productions featuring the performer including the third season of The White Lotus, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and the superhero action film Kraven the Hunter have also disappeared from Ukrainian streaming platforms. Screenshots published by local media on Saturday show the message: “This content cannot be viewed in Ukraine.”

The State Film Agency has also instructed distributors and media companies to remove certain films and TV series from broadcast and streaming catalogs, Kommersant Ukraine reported on Saturday. The agency is reportedly holding talks with international platforms about the possibility of restricting access to the banned titles as well.

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Kolokolnikov has appeared in numerous international productions outside Russia over the past decade. His recent credits include Darren Aronofsky’s 2025 film Caught Stealing and Apple TV’s The Last Frontier (2025).

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russian artists have faced mounting restrictions abroad. Initially, Russian films were withdrawn from international festivals, screenings were canceled, and actors and directors were disinvited or blacklisted from cultural events across the West. Moscow has denounced these bans as “Russophobic censorship,” warning that attempts to “cancel” Russian culture will ultimately fail.