Former US Defense Chief Christopher Miller Visits HUR Veteran Center in Kyiv

A veteran center for the Artan special unit of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) recently hosted an American delegation in Kyiv.

The group was led by Christopher Miller, who served as the acting US Secretary of Defense from 2020 to 2021. As of September 2025, the US department has been officially renamed the Ministry of War.

As a retired colonel from the US Army Special Forces, Miller expressed solidarity with the HUR soldiers. The meeting focused on the shared combat experience of special operations forces from both nations to discuss future cooperation in veteran policy.

The delegation also included Phil Anderson, the founder and president of Navigators Security and Defense. His company provides various defense solutions such as aviation operations and strategic consulting. Representatives from other defense firms, including Ridgeline International and Next Gen RF Design, were also part of the visit.

In 2022, Anderson and Miller established the Ukraine Freedom Alliance. This charitable organization provides humanitarian aid to the Armed Forces of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Supporting veterans, especially those from military intelligence, is a priority for Ukraine’s long-term state policy. The Artan unit is currently managing several programs in this area.

These initiatives include comprehensive rehabilitation for soldiers and professional reintegration for those who can no longer serve due to injuries. The unit also provides social support and assistance to the families of fallen soldiers.

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This visit established a foundation for future cooperation and the exchange of experience between the special forces veteran communities of the United States and Ukraine. The organizers noted the importance of the interest shown in Artan’s history and the support for their ongoing efforts.

At the Kyiv Regional Center for National Resistance Training, veterans who had been honorably discharged due to severe injuries or time spent in captivity served as instructors for Ukrainian civilians.

These battle-hardened soldiers, including former members of the Third Assault Brigade and Azov Brigade, shared their real combat experience through intensive tactical and medical training programs.

Under the leadership of Volodymyr “Valdemar” Avdyienko, the center provided these veterans with meaningful employment that allowed them to transition back to civilian life while helping others prepare for the realities of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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