Nate Vance, the cousin of Ukrainian critic U.S. Vice President JD Vance, spent nearly three years fighting as a volunteer in Ukraine, French-based Le Figaro reports in an exclusive interview with him.
He served in the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion that operates under Ukraine’s 67th Mechanized Brigade.
A 47-year-old Texan, Nate Vance fought in key battles, including those for Kupiansk (Kharkiv region), Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk – all in Donetsk Oblast.
He was discharged in early January 2025, just weeks before his cousin’s inauguration as vice president.
JD Vance has been openly critical of his cousin’s stance on Ukraine, saying he is “disappointed.”
“When JD justified his distrust of Zelenskyy with those ‘reports’ he had seen, I nearly choked. I could have told him the truth – honestly, without pretense or personal interest – but he didn’t even try to find out more,” Nate Vance said.
He also said he was outraged when during his cousin’s temptatious confrontation with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.
“JD is a good, intelligent guy. When he criticized aid to Ukraine, I thought it was just political posturing to appeal to a certain electorate. But what they did to Zelenskyy was an ambush, carried out in absolute bad faith,” he said.
Nate Vance says he has tried multiple times to contact his cousin, even leaving messages at his office, but has received no response.
A former U.S. Marine, he lived a civilian life for two decades before going to Ukraine in 2022. He had previously worked in the oil industry, and his social media activity suggests he holds Republican views.
As cousins – JD Vance’s mother, Beverly, is the sister of Nate Vance’s father, James.
The Da Vinci Wolves Battalion confirmed that Nate Vance fought in their ranks against Russian forces but did not provide further details, state-run news agency Suspilne reports.
Cover: Le Figaro
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