Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Vitalii Kim, has issued a stark warning that a Russian victory in his country would lead to further invasions across Europe, specifically targeting the Baltic states. Kim, who held a firsthand view of the initial Russian assault in 2022 while serving as governor of Mykolaiv oblast, spoke to L’Express during a visit to Paris, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal is the restoration of the Russian Empire. “If Ukraine falls, nothing will be able to stop a Russian invasion in Europe,” Kim stated, cautioning that countries like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia could be among the Kremlin’s next targets.
Kim, a 45-year-old who was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs on July 16, has been at the forefront of Ukraine’s war efforts. In February 2022, as governor of Mykolaiv, he was on the front lines when Russian forces attempted to seize the regional capital. His daily video reports from the battlefield at the time garnered widespread public sympathy across Ukraine. Today, overseeing the care and reintegration of veterans who fought Russian forces on the front lines, Kim is urging European nations to not underestimate the threat posed by Moscow.
Veterans Divided on Prospects for Peace
As new tripartite negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled for November 10 and 11, Kim noted that veterans in Ukraine hold deeply divided opinions on the prospect of a potential peace agreement. The veteran population, which represents a significant portion of Ukrainian society, is split on whether the fight should continue at all costs or if it would be preferable to seek an end to the conflict. Detailed polling within this group reveals a stark contrast: more than 60% of veterans not currently on the front lines call for the struggle to continue, while a majority of those actively serving would prefer it to stop.
This division mirrors broader societal rifts in Ukraine as the war grinds on. President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated in August that the number of Ukrainian veterans could surpass three million by the end of the war. When accounting for veterans and their families, that figure rises to over nine million people, constituting one-third of the country’s active population. Kim described this as an “unprecedented situation,” noting that this massive group will demand specific policies to address its needs.
Challenges in Reintegrating Wounded Veterans
The scale of the wounded population presents a major challenge for Ukraine. The country is dealing with tens of thousands of amputees and other seriously injured veterans. A program led by First Lady Olena Zelenska is designed to assist all individuals injured across the country, but Kim acknowledged significant difficulties in securing adequate funding. Despite the absolute priority being national defense, he stressed the need to anticipate the future and build the necessary infrastructure for wounded veterans.
France has been a key partner in this effort, providing funding for the “Superhumans” project, a program that cares for wounded individuals, particularly those who have undergone amputations. This initiative is currently operational in Lviv and Odesa and plans to expand to other cities due to overwhelming demand and insufficient capacity. Kim called for increased support for “Superhumans” and similar projects focused on mental health, highlighting the critical need for both physical and psychological care.
Supporting Families of Veterans
Mental health care is a developing but crucial sector in the support of Ukrainian veterans. Kim revealed that an experimental program, which he invited France to join, combines physical rehabilitation with psychological support, while also involving the families of veterans. He cited a significant issue of family violence upon a veteran’s return from the front, with a divorce rate reaching 20% among those who have served in combat. The experimental program aims for a holistic approach, integrating physical rehabilitation, psychological counseling, and family involvement to preserve the family unit.
The Drone Revolution on the Battlefield
The massive use of drones has fundamentally altered the nature of warfare on the front lines, Kim stated. Most conventional weapons, such as tanks, heavy armored vehicles, and portable anti-missile systems, have become largely ineffective because the distances of engagement now far exceed their range. This shift applies to Ukrainian, Western, and Russian equipment alike. Kim drew a parallel to World War I when aircraft appeared on a battlefield previously dominated by cannons and rifles, describing it as the emergence of a completely new doctrine of war involving novel strategies.
“I remember very well what I saw on the ground in 2022. The situation today has nothing to do with that, neither in strategy, nor in tactics, nor in the conduct of combat operations,” Kim said. He noted that traditional snipers and conventional anti-tank weapons have largely disappeared from modern combat.
Drone Warfare: A Complex Balance
When asked if Ukraine holds an advantage over Russia in the drone domain, Kim described the situation as complex. He explained that different types of drones exist, and the advantage varies by category. While Ukraine is advancing rapidly technologically, Russia possesses significant industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities, allowing it to produce drones in vast quantities. The Russian strategy is based on mass, whereas Ukraine favors a more innovative approach. It is difficult to claim either side has an absolute advantage, Kim conceded, but he asserted that Ukraine possesses a clear lead over Europe and the United States in this specific area of warfare.
Russia’s Ability to Sustain Losses
In October, Russia recorded over 54,000 battlefield casualties. Kim was asked if Moscow could sustain such losses for long. “It can,” he replied, stating that Russia possesses a large human reservoir and “frankly, doesn’t care about the scale of its losses.” He noted that effective propaganda limits the impact of these casualties domestically. Moscow’s primary concerns, Kim said, are its economic potential and oil exports, suggesting that heavier sanctions could create significant economic difficulties and change the situation.
Kim described a reality where the Russian regime distributes substantial sums of money to impoverished populations in regions far from Moscow. In Russia, the “special military operation,” as the government calls it, is perceived as an employment opportunity. Some wives even encourage their husbands to go to war to receive the associated bonus payment. “The Russians are fighting for money, while Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and for Europe,” Kim concluded.
A Shared European Defense Strategy
Kim firmly believes that Russian ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, and he warned that a Ukrainian defeat would embolden further aggression. “The Russian regime will have no reason not to attack if it perceives itself as the strongest,” he said, reiterating that Putin’s objective is to restore the Russian Empire. He added that before the 2022 invasion, he, like many in Europe today, believed a Russian attack on Ukraine was impossible. “What seems impossible at one moment can change radically overnight,” he said.
Kim argued that Europe’s interest lies in supporting Ukraine so that it can continue to fight on Europe’s behalf. He described the Ukrainian armed forces as the most capable on the continent, both in terms of experience and manpower, and stressed the need to develop a common strategy for European defense. While he acknowledged that Ukrainian veterans could one day play a major role in training European armies, particularly in drone warfare, he stated that for now, all Ukrainian soldiers are needed in Ukraine. The battlefield experience gained at such a cost “belongs to Ukraine for the time being,” he said.
As numerous major elections are anticipated across Europe in the coming months, Kim was asked if he fears a weakening of support for Ukraine due to the rise of populism. “We do not wish to see a weakening of European support, because we really need it,” he replied. However, he noted that Ukraine has no influence over European elections. “We will work with any democratically elected leader,” he stated. “We have only one objective: to win this war, to win our freedom and our independence.”
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