An actor from “Game of Thrones” urged people not to stop helping Ukraine ahead of winter

Danish actor and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has called on international partners to continue providing financial support to Ukrainian communities ahead of winter. His appeal was published on the organization’s website.

The actor who played Jaime Lannister in the series Game of Thrones spent a week in Ukraine. During his visit, he met people rebuilding their communities despite attacks on civilian infrastructure. Mykolaiv was among the cities on his itinerary: on October 30, the actor visited the city, where he was spotted at FREEDOM Art Pub.

He spoke about meeting residents of Kyiv and the impact of power outages on their lives:

“A TV program is currently airing in Denmark in which participants try to live without electricity for a few days. In Ukraine, however, an unreliable power supply has been part of everyday life for years. I was deeply moved by meeting people in their homes in Kyiv, where they have electricity for only a few hours a day. When we hear statistics about damaged energy infrastructure, those figures can seem abstract. But behind them are the lives of real people. Whether children can study, homes can be heated, and people can work and make plans for the future all depends on having electricity,” said Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

He also highlighted the tangible results of international support and the next steps needed:

“At the same time, it is encouraging that support from international partners is already delivering results. Critical equipment has already been delivered to Ukraine. The next step is to ensure it is installed and kept operational so that people in communities have electricity and access to essential services,” the actor explained.

Summing up his impressions of the visit, the Goodwill Ambassador emphasized:

“My trip to Ukraine was full of striking contrasts. Air raid alerts sounded day and night, but everywhere I met people who, despite everything, continue to work, create, and support one another. Their resilience is inspiring, but it must not be taken for granted. People still need safety, stability, and ongoing support. The assistance Ukraine receives today helps communities recover, saves lives, and keeps hope for the future alive. And a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine is a future that will benefit not only Ukrainians, but all of Europe,” said Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

We previously reported:

• UN plans winter assistance for 2.1 million Ukrainians—from heating to cash payments
• Five regions, including Mykolaiv Oblast, receive equipment to restore energy infrastructure
• Mykolaiv Oblast bolsters its energy capacity ahead of winter: the Netherlands delivers equipment
• Japanese government grant for frontline Mykolaiv Oblast: communities receive 27 transformers ahead of winter
• Nearly one million euros in aid: Denmark supports Mykolaiv Oblast’s energy sector