The State Film Agency of Ukraine has decided to exclude from the State Register of Films the film by cult American director Steven Spielberg "The Terminal", starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. This is reported in the institution's response to a request from the Ukrainian News agency.
The reason for the ban was the participation in the film of russian actor Valery Nikolaev, who is included in the list of persons who pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine
"The State Film Agency of Ukraine has decided to exclude The Terminal (directed by Steven Spielberg, 2004) from the State Register of Films," the response reads.
Fragment of the State Film Agency's response to the request of the Ukrainian News agency. Screenshot: the Ukrainian News agency
The State Film Agency also reported that in January 2026, no films were banned for screening in Ukraine.
"During January 1-31, 2026, no films were banned for distribution and screening in Ukraine," the agency said.
It is worth noting that Steven Spielberg has been publicly supporting Ukraine since the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion and, together with his wife Kate Capshaw, has donated USD 1 million of his own money to humanitarian aid to Ukrainians. Spielberg also criticized US President Donald Trump when he spoke about the need to reduce aid to Ukraine.
Who is Valery Nikolaev?
Valery Valeryevich Nikolaev (born August 23, 1965) is a famous russian actor, a citizen of the russian federation. In addition to russian films, he has acted in Ukraine, Europe and the United States. Among other things, he played in such Ukrainian projects as Niagara (1991), Bourgeois Birthday, Bourgeois Birthday 2 (2000-2001, (t/series, Bourgeois). In 2025, Nikolaev was included in the list of persons who pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine due to his active anti-Ukrainian propaganda and information activities. This includes support and justification of the aggressive policy of the military and political leadership of the russian federation by participating in the creation of the television program "For the sake of knowledge."
Valery Nikolaev. Photo: russian media
What is The Terminal about?
The Terminal is an American dramedy directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, released in 2004, starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film, written by Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson, is based on the story by Andrew Niccol and Sasca Gervasi and is inspired by the real life story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived for many years in the terminal of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The film tells the story of Viktor Navorski, a citizen of the fictional Eastern European country of Krakozhia, who, after a coup d'état in his homeland, finds himself legally trapped in a US airport, unable to enter the country or return home, and is forced to make a life right in the terminal, where he finds friends, enemies, and hope.
Earlier, the State Film Agency told us how much state funds were spent on the film, which they themselves banned.
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