During an interview with Alexander Vindman–the former director of European Affairs on the National Security Council and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel–at the United Center during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22,  his mirror image appeared. 

His twin, Eugene Vindman, the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congress, immediately put his arm around his brother. A simple embrace set the tone for the rest of the conversation, one of unity and family.

According to the New York Times, A. and E. Vindman were born in modern-day Ukraine in 1976, and three years later, their family moved to New York, N.Y. These ties to Ukraine have remained relevant in both A. and E. Vindman’s career all these years later.

“Eugene Vindman For Congress,” a campaign website, details E. Vindman’s service later in life, serving in the U.S. Army by acting as an officer in the JAG corps, the branch of the military that takes legal action in support of people in the service. 

After this role, E. Vindman worked for the National Security Council. His brother, A. Vindman’s path mirrors his own, serving as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel. According to a deposition made by A. Vindman, after being awarded a Purple Heart after injuries suffered on a tour in Iraq, he served as a Foreign Affairs Officer, focusing on Ukraine and Russia. After his service in this role, A. Vindman was asked to serve at the National Security Council.
The Vindmans’ experiences in these roles are intertwined with a much larger story. On Sept. 18, 2019, a Washington Post article revealed an unmanned whistleblower who brought a phone call between former President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zylensky of Ukraine to the government’s attention. The whistleblower alleged that Trump, while in office, attempted to use foreign aid to motivate Zylensky to investigate the Biden family to aid in Trump’s reelection campaign. According to BBC, Trump refuted the content of the phone call and fired some of the officials who testified about the alleged blackmailing, including A. Vindman.
Both Vindmans were pushed into the national spotlight when A. Vindman testified in front of the House of Representatives to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, jointly with the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on Foreign Affairs about this phone call between Trump and Zylensky. According to a heavily disputed deposition posted on PBS, A. Vindman said a foreign government investigating a U.S. citizen under pressure would jeopardize the U.S. supporting Ukraine.
This deposition, along with others, eventually led to Trump’s first impeachment on Dec. 18, 2019, as chronicled by the Articles of Impeachment published by Congress. Although both Vindmans are no longer with the National Security Council, they both remain active in civic engagement and improving upon U.S. foreign relations.
In the interview with LION reporters at the DNC, A. Vindman focused on the importance of being informed and aware when discussing youth engagement, something that has informed his decisions throughout his career.

“I think part of this is education, some sort of recognition,” A. Vindman said. “It’s plugging into what’s going on …locally in the cities and the states and then realizing that there’s a big world out there, a big interesting world to explore and participate [in] and make better. …So I think that kind of growth, whatever nurtures and nudges that kind of growth, is absolutely critical to engaging the youth.”
Youth are not only staying informed, but volunteering to stay active in their community. E. Vindman is currently campaigning in Virginia, a state that elected President Joe Biden in 2020 by a small majority. According to Date USA, this seat represents the 786,030 people in District seven of Virginia.
“We have volunteers on my campaign that are 15 years old. Actually [these volunteers] do a great job of talking to voters, they hand out [literature], and they just talk about … what I stand for, what’s important for them,” E. Vindman said.
It’s these same teenagers that may not yet be able to vote, but still are influenced by the world and politics around them. The primary influence is social media, which both Vindmans have first-hand experience with.
“We have teenage daughters, so let me think about what motivates my 14-year-old daughter,” E. Vindman said. “TikTok [and] YouTube videos.”
It’s these forms of content that the DNC targeted, inviting around 200 content creators to cover the convention in Chicago in August. Both the Vindmans use social media platforms to reach youth voters. A. Vindman’s professional X, formerly known as Twitter, has 938,000 followers, and E. Vindman’s campaign X account has 124,900.
With lives filled with trials and tribulations, the Vindman twins are united for a hopeful future ahead with a co-founded organization dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine, the Here Right Matters Foundation, a run to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional district, and a role as Senior Advisor to VoteVets.
“These are powerful emotions, anxiety that is now being built on with this promise of hope,” E. Vindman said.