This weekend, the Ukrainian unit Da Vinci Wolves has published photos of one of its American volunteers, who is none other than Nate Vance, cousin of Vice President J.D. Vance. He is a former U.S. Marine who, after four years of service, worked for an oil company in Texas. In March 2022, he traveled to Lviv, Ukraine, with the intention of helping. There, he met a British volunteer who proposed that he join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a proposal he accepted, moving to Donbas in June of that year.
During his time in Ukraine, Nate Vance integrated into the Da Vinci Wolves assault battalion and participated in some of the most intense battles of the Russo-Ukrainian war, including those in Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk. His comrades describe him as an excellent and calm fighter, highlighting his skill in handling weapons and his ability to survive in extreme situations.
In January 2025, Nate stopped fighting with this unit due to his cousin's stance and the possibility of being captured by the Russians as a high-value target, but expressed his desire to continue helping Ukraine. Despite his attempts to communicate with his cousin J.D. Vance to share his experiences on the front line, he received no response. This lack of communication and his cousin's political stance regarding aid to Ukraine led him to express his disappointment towards him.
J.D. Vance has suggested a plan to end the war in Ukraine that involves Russia keeping the occupied territories and Ukraine adopting a position of neutrality, refraining from joining NATO. Some have seen this proposal as a capitulation to Vladimir Putin's demands and contrary to Ukrainian interests.
Before the Russian invasion in 2022, Vance stated: "I really don't care what happens to Ukraine". Such comments have sparked outrage among Ukrainians, who perceive them as a lack of empathy and understanding towards their situation. Additionally, Vance has consistently opposed the sending of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, arguing that those resources should be allocated to domestic issues in the United States. This stance, especially after the confrontation with Zelensky at the White House alongside Donald Trump, has been criticized by Ukrainians who consider international support vital for their defense.