Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for playing Jaime Lannister in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, visited Ukraine and experienced firsthand the reality of living under the constant threat of Russian attacks. During his stay in Kyiv, the actor had to take shelter in the city’s metro system amid the threat of Russian missile and drone strikes.
The visit was reported by Reuters and Suspilne Culture.
On October 28, 2026, Reuters photographers captured the Game of Thrones star in Kyiv’s metro system. One photograph shows Coster-Waldau standing at a metro station with a backpack, while another shows him inside a subway train.
Coster-Waldau, who also serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said his visit to Ukraine was his own initiative. He explained that the prolonged war risks gradually fading from international attention, while a sense of fatigue is growing across Europe.
“In my opinion, the war has been going on for so long that it may be easy to forget about it, and a certain fatigue is setting in across Europe,” the actor told Suspilne Culture.
He stressed the importance of continuing to tell the world about the war and the human suffering it has caused.
During his visit to Kyiv, the Game of Thrones star also attended a performance excerpt from the one-man play One-Day Hero, created and performed by Ukrainian actor and war veteran Volodymyr Tuka.
The production tells the story of a defender from Kherson who survived Russian occupation, joined the Ukrainian military and was wounded in combat.
Coster-Waldau said the performance left a profound emotional impression on him. He was particularly moved by the veteran’s courage in openly sharing his experiences of the war.
During his visit, the actor also met a Ukrainian man named Serhii, who lost both legs and his eyesight. Coster-Waldau admitted that he could barely comprehend the scale of suffering endured by Ukrainians.
“We must insist on telling this story about our shared humanity,” he emphasized.
As part of his trip, the actor is also learning about UNDP-supported recovery projects in Ukraine, including initiatives focused on energy, culture and demining.
Coster-Waldau has supported Ukraine on previous occasions. In April 2022, he joined the international Stand Up for Ukraine initiative, aimed at raising funds and providing assistance to people affected by Russia’s invasion.
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