Day 50 of Ukrainian War: Interview with LDLU President Arthur Kharytonov

When I first spoke to Arthur Kharytonov, serving President of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine (LDLU), in early March, it was Day 17 following the Russian invasion of his homeland.

He was sat in a bomb shelter in his nation’s capital Kyiv, having recently been subjected to “huge explosions and (the sound of) gunfire” he told me as part of an interview conducted for Taiwan’s English language Taipei Times newspaper.

During that interview, Kharytonov spoke clearly, looked energetic, and perhaps even made of the ‘iron’ he described when he said “Like the majority of Ukrainians I have become more iron (sic) inside, because right now, I know which values I will fight for after the victory of Ukraine.”

Speaking to him again on Day 50, away from the shelter and this time back in his home during a period of respite for residents of the historic capital, he looked fraught, exhausted even.

Gone was the fresh faced 26-year-old leader of a political group.

In his place was an older man, not unlike his president in recent photos, clearly aged by his experiences over recent weeks, even if they were not on the front lines.

Unable to himself serve in a combat unit for medical reasons dating back to his teens, Arthur Kharytonov currently works daily on behalf of his nation as a leader in the cyber-war against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. “We can use cyber know-how to protect our country” he had told me previously.

Yet cyber fronts alone do not win wars, so when asked to describe life on the ground now, with the war now in its 3rd calendar month and with increasing reports of Russian atrocities against Ukrainian civilians filling news sites, Kharytonov said the capital was “calm at the moment” as the “outside world has seen the terrible crimes of Russia.” As a result, he said curfews are now in place in many areas.

Air raid alarms still ring out over the capital’s streets, but as bad as conditions might be in the region around Kyiv in central Ukraine, compared to what is going on in the south of the country the threat “here is much calmer, and more stable,” Kharytonov said.

Asked for an update on support seen coming from Taiwan, on the back of earlier requests he made for Taiwan to send direct “military support” preferably in the form of protective body armor for front line troops, Kharytonov was quick to express his thanks for both governmental and private sector support to date – calling Taiwanese people “very open hearted and open-minded.”

Arthur Kharytonov (photo courtesy of Arthur Kharytonov)

This praise was, however, somewhat tempered by an earlier reference to his own government headed by President Zelensky and the national government of Ukraine historically siding with Beijing in issues relating to Taiwan.

Financial contributions received from Taiwan to help support Ukrainian refugees are also being “seen and appreciated” as are voices emanating from the national government in Taipei, especially from “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Minister Joseph Wu personally,” he says.

An aspect of support largely absent from TV screens and media reports in Taiwan followed when Arthur Kharytonov said “Taiwanese people are already fighting in Ukraine with the Ukrainian army”, with financial donations supporting these fighters being made from Taiwan.

This does include “military equipment” sent “in private ways from groups of people supporting Taiwanese (fighters), and other groups connected to Taiwan.”

“We see everything (the) Taiwanese people are doing and are extremely appreciative,” he continues, going on to say Taiwan at present stands closer to Ukraine than some Western nations.

No official supply of arms has yet been made by Taiwan, although such a move would be “brilliant” even if it is an issue Kharytonov admits must be handled carefully.

The approach of the Ukrainian government towards Taiwan is “something to fix,” he claims, and that closer relations with Taiwan is “something to advocate for.” He hopes that his government will be “more realistic towards China,” considering the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, a group closely linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, had earlier in the day expressed its disappointment towards Beijing with regards to Russian aggression in the country.

Asked in closing if he would at some point like to see a Taiwanese political heavyweight follow in the footsteps of European Union representatives, national leaders, and in particular Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the UK, a “for sure” quickly followed.

“It would be great to see Taiwanese counterparts (of earlier visitors) in Ukraine, especially in meetings with our own officials.”

However, as Kharytonov is quick to highlight, “that is up to the government of Ukraine. For many years the national government has been brainwashed by pro-Beijing elements.”

(Feature photo courtesy of Arthur Kharytonov)