Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau shelters in Kyiv metro amid air raid threat

Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, best known for portraying Jaime Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones, was photographed taking shelter in a Kyiv metro station on the night of October 28 during threats of Russian missile and drone strikes.

Reuters images show the 56-year-old, wearing a blue United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hoodie, carrying bags and a backpack, boarding a subway train and later resting on a folding cot on a station platform alongside other residents.

Coster-Waldau, a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 2016, was visiting the Ukrainian capital on his own initiative to draw attention to the ongoing conflict and the needs of civilians as winter approaches.

Kyiv’s metro stations have long served as public bomb shelters since Russia’s full-scale war, with residents often spending nights underground during air raid alerts.

Photos captured him among makeshift tents, sleeping bags, and other civilians seeking safety.

The actor later shared his experience on Instagram Stories. “Spent a night in the Kyiv Metro. Pretty rough night,” he wrote.

“I get to do it one night and tell the tale but for thousands of Ukrainians it’s a necessity to be safe during the shelling. We need to keep helping the civilians and uphold the rules we all agree on,” tagging the UNDP.

He also posted screenshots indicating red-level air raid alerts in Kyiv lasting several consecutive days.

In comments to local media, Coster-Waldau explained the purpose of his trip.

“It’s all about raising awareness and making sure people don’t forget that there’s a country that’s holding up well but needs help from the international community, especially now that winter is coming,” he said.

He noted that interest in the war may be waning in parts of Europe and stressed the importance of continuing to highlight the human impact.

During the visit, the actor attended an excerpt from the one-man play One-Day Hero, performed by Ukrainian actor and war veteran Volodymyr Tuka.

He also met a man named Serhii, who lost both legs and his eyesight in the war. Coster-Waldau said he found it difficult to fully comprehend the scale of suffering endured by Ukrainians.

Passengers at the metro station recognized the actor; some took photos and selfies with him, and at least one requested an autograph.

He was also spotted earlier in a bar in Kyiv’s Podil district.

The images of the Game of Thrones star on a folding bed underground quickly circulated widely on social media and in international outlets.