The dissatisfaction of Mykolaiv residents can’t be dismissed as the work of bots: Kim says Russia is funding his critics

Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs Vitalii Kim commented on criticism that he heads the ministry responsible for veterans despite not being a veteran himself. The official said he believes some of the negative comments are linked to bots that, according to him, have been funded by Russia since 2023. At the same time, he acknowledged that some of the criticism directed at him is justified.

The minister spoke about this on October 26, 2026, at a press conference marking the first 100 days of work by the Ministry for Veterans Affairs’ newly formed team, reports LIGA.net.

According to Vitalii Kim, he regularly visits various regions of Ukraine, meets with representatives of local communities, and speaks directly with people. The minister believes these trips help him better understand people’s needs and the problems that need to be addressed.

He particularly noted the support he receives from residents of the country’s southern regions. The official said he is confident in his actions and feels supported by the southern community.

The minister also addressed the negative comments surrounding his work. As an example, he cited the recent opening of another veterans’ hub. According to him, volunteers who worked to establish the facility faced a wave of criticism and complained about the large number of negative messages.

Vitalii Kim said he tried to reassure the volunteer team and convince its members not to take all the attacks personally. In his view, some of the negativity is aimed primarily at him and is connected to the information activity that followed him during his time working in Mykolaiv.

“I reassured them and told them not to take it personally, because these are my bots, which I brought with me from Mykolaiv; Russia funded a lot of them back in 2023. I’m used to them,” said Vitalii Kim.

The claim that Russia funded this activity is, however, the minister’s own assertion.

At the same time, Kim stressed that he does not consider all criticism unfounded. He acknowledged that there are objective and fair complaints, and said he is willing to listen to them. However, in his view, some people echo accusations circulating in the information space.

Questions about the minister’s lack of veteran status arose soon after his appointment. On July 16, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada appointed the former head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration as Minister for Veterans Affairs. The personnel decision drew criticism from some service members, veterans, and civic activists.

During protests in Kyiv and Mykolaiv, demonstrators called for someone with combat experience to be appointed to the position. Among other slogans, protesters chanted: “A veteran, not Kim!”

In closing, the minister stressed that his ministry’s work should be judged primarily by tangible results. In his view, the ministry’s success should be measured by its effectiveness—not by the number of negative comments or discussions about his personality.

It is worth noting, however, that many residents of Mykolaiv and the region are genuinely dissatisfied with Vitalii Kim’s work as head of the regional military administration. These are not just anonymous comments online. Residents of Mykolaiv have repeatedly voiced their complaints publicly about power supply problems, road conditions, issues in local communities, and unfulfilled promises. In particular, in January 2026, Kim’s statements about power cuts sparked a wave of angry comments from residents, while people in the region publicly complained about problems with social assistance, roads, and access to medical services.

Therefore, attributing negative attitudes toward the official to Russian bots requires convincing evidence. Russian information operations are indeed a threat, but criticism from citizens cannot automatically be linked to them. Otherwise, a dangerous situation may arise in which residents’ real problems and justified complaints about the authorities go unaddressed, while people who openly express dissatisfaction may be seen as participants in a hostile information campaign. At the same time, Vitalii Kim himself acknowledged that some of the criticism directed at him is fair.

We previously reported:

• “A veteran shouldn’t have to be a courier”: Vitalii Kim wants to eliminate paperwork and running between agencies
• “The minister should be a veteran, not Kim”: Vitalii admitted the public was right, but won’t give up his seat
• “The minister should be a veteran, not Kim”: Government appointment sparks protest
• Veterans’ hub network: support for defenders expanded in Mykolaiv
• Kim proposes creating “veterans’ ombudsman” positions in every community in Mykolaiv Oblast