Ukrainian streaming services remove Game of Thrones and Tenet because of Russian actor
31 October 16:37
Ukrainian streaming platforms have started removing films and TV series featuring Russian actor Yuri Kolokolnikov after the Ministry of Culture added him to the list of persons posing a threat to national security.
This became known from streaming sites, as well as from users on social media, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing Suspilne.
The platforms complied with the decision of the Ministry of Culture, which on August 21 added Yuriy Kolokolnikov to the list of cultural figures whose activities are subject to restrictions under the Law on Cinematography.
The Security Service of Ukraine initiated this decision because the actor had repeatedly supported Kremlin narratives and starred in projects funded by the Russian state. He did not express a clear position on a full-scale invasion, but continued to work in the aggressor country’s industry alongside his roles in Western films.
After the list was updated, services began removing content featuring the Russian. The fourth season of Game of Thrones, the third season of White Lotus, Christopher Nolan’s The Grid, and the superhero action movie Craven disappeared from Ukrainian catalogs.
The State Film Agency reported that it had sent distributors and media groups instructions to remove films and TV series from air and service libraries. The agency is also negotiating with international companies to restrict access to these projects for Ukrainian users on global platforms.
On August 28, the Ukrainian State Film Agency denied a distribution certificate to Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller Caught Stealing because of the participation of Yuri Kolokolnikov and Anton Kukushkin in the film.
About the actor
Yuri Kolokolnikov is a Russian actor with Russian and Canadian citizenship. He starred in Christopher Nolan’s The Shawshank Redemption, Game of Thrones, and The Wizard of Oz.
In Ukraine, no sanctions were imposed on the actor; the Ministry of Culture only added him to the list of people who threaten national security.
Kolokolnikov continued to act in Russian films. For example, he starred in the title role in the film The Last Ronin by Russian director Max Shishkin, which was released in 2024. The film tells the story of the post-apocalyptic future of the earth after a nuclear explosion. The filming took place in Russia, with the last block of shooting taking place in Moscow, and the film was produced by Central Partnership, a studio owned by Gazprom-Media.
