The Ukrainian billionaire whose battalion delivered a blow to Putin
Dressed in full military fatigues, Ukrainian grain billionaire Vsevolod Kozhemyako contemplated his new job as he played Beethoven’s Für Elise on a grand piano in a dimly lit Kharkiv hotel.
“Yes, I am a businessman,” he said. “And now I am the commander of a military unit Ukrainian.”
The light infantry battalion he founded about four years ago – the 13th “Khartia” Brigade – consisted of a group of civilian volunteers funded by his own fortune and the support of other wealthy donors.
This week Khartia raised the Ukrainian flag over Kupiansk. Vladimir Putin‘s soldiers and a much-needed morale boost for a country short of men to defend its cities and the energy to keep them warm.
It was a striking symbol that Kiev’s forces were far from succumbing to Russia’s “minced meat” tactics and solidified the unit as one of the most effective units at Ukraine’s disposal.
Ukraine’s Hartia brigade released a video of themselves flying the country’s flag over the Kupiansk city council building
“The Kupiansk operation proves that through planning, trained commanders and staffs, and quality troop preparation (everything we call the Khartia method) you can successfully stop and destroy the enemy,” said Colonel Ihor Obolensky.
It’s a statement Kiev hopes will be heard in Washington as Russia continues to make steady gains in a grinding war of attrition along nearly 600 miles of front line.
Mr. Kozhemyako’s unit grew from a makeshift dream, consisting of an unbalanced mix of civilians and elite equipment, into a force leading precision counterattacks on one of the war’s deadliest fronts.
The success of Khartia, dubbed the “billionaire brigade,” appears to have resolved weeks of disputed claims by both Russia and Ukraine over control of the strategic city.
The brigade started as a group of civilian volunteers and is now one of the most effective combat units.
There has come a time when showing your strength could not be more important. Volodymyr ZelenskyUkrainian president.
Kupiansk, south-east of Kharkiv, has been the hotspot of Russian “minced meat” attacks for months – Moscow has been crashing waves of troops into Ukrainian defenses there.
The city appeared on the verge of being overrun just a few weeks ago, but in a dramatic turn, Ukrainian troops this week said they had expelled nearly all Russian forces and raised the Ukrainian flag over the battered ruins of the city’s council building on Monday.
Intelligence reports revealed that the kill ratio in the battle for the city was 1:27, with 27 Russian soldiers lost for every Ukrainian.
B’
‘
Khartia were deployed in the area alongside regular and less experienced units, coming together to form a layered pattern of defense and attack.
Ukrainian forces used this approach to thwart Russian attacks while preserving elite troops for decisive strikes.
Units quietly moved in throughout the autumn, advancing through the forests surrounding Kupiansk and beginning to advance towards the city.
Khartia’s units focused on key points in Kupiansk, including railway crossings, river approaches, and urban crossings; It turned streets and industrial areas into concentrated killing zones for advancing Russian forces.
Credit: X / @khartiia_eng
The brigade’s operations relied on careful reconnaissance, mobility, and coordination with artillery and drone teams.
By attacking suddenly and retreating before Russian troops could stabilize, Hartia caused disproportionate losses and forced Russian troops to retreat in disorder.
Their presence also allowed Ukrainian forces to return less experienced brigades to the line without compromising the overall defense.
Behind the victory stands Mr. Kozhemyako, a businessman with a distinctive personal profile who attracted media attention for his eccentricities.
Before the war, his social media showed a life rich in travel and outdoor activities, from skiing in the Alps to yachting.
The 55-year-old father of four combined his luxury holidays with running, cycling and golf.
In 2017, he ran the New York City Marathon in under three and a half hours.
Mr. Kozhemyako is the founder and general director of Agrotrade Group, one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters. But today his attention is entirely on the war.
Mr. Kozhemyako enjoyed traveling the world for unique experiences such as skiing in the Alps
Khartia was founded by Mr. Kozhemyako in March 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and began life as a volunteer unit attached to the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade in Kharkiv.
Operating independently of the Ukrainian military but accepting its orders, Hartia earned the nickname “billionaire battalion” due to its financing model and support from numerous wealthy donors.
Military tracking sites estimate that Khartia’s manpower is likely in the range of approximately 1,500 to 5,000 personnel.
Technically, a battalion is a territorial defense unit; It is a wartime necessity that will disappear when the war is over.
“As soon as the war is over, we are civilians again,” he said about four years ago.
But today his unit stands as an elite Ukrainian National Guard assault formation, specializing in rapid counterattacks, urban warfare and drone-assisted operations, and stands out as one of the most successful units around Kupiansk.
The Ukrainian flag flying over the city marks an important victory at a moment when demonstrating military might on the world stage has never been more important.
Mr Kozhemyako, seen with a comrade-in-arms, transformed his unit into a force leading precision counter-attacks
US President Donald Trump claimed the following in his statements this week: The real obstacle is not Putin, but Mr. Zelensky reaching a peace agreement that would end the war.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal. I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal,” Mr Trump told Reuters.
The president’s comments raised the stakes for Kiev and underscored the need to prove that Ukrainian forces are capable, effective and deliver tangible gains on the battlefield.
However, with every victory of Ukraine there is also a defeat. About 250 miles from Kupiansk, near the city of Huliaipole, the withdrawal of forces reflected the lack of manpower in Kiev.
Personnel shortages force the use of “firefighter” units like Khartia to respond to Russian pressure, often leaving other fronts exposed.
Cereal billionaire found a Donald Trump star on his travels
This makes their success even more important. Showing success on the battlefield makes it much harder for Mr. Trump to portray Ukraine as stagnant or incapable of changing the course of the conflict, experts say.
“Ukraine’s recent successes around Kupiansk are very important in showing that it will not surrender as some in the White House think, and on the contrary, Ukraine is now making progress.” Hamish de Bretton-GordonThe military expert and former tank commander told The Telegraph:
“Putin is desperate to get Trump to pull the plug on Ukraine, and Trump is looking elsewhere, even blaming Zelensky for the lack of progress on the peace plan while almost everyone else blames him and the Russian leader.”
In the midst of these risky political debates, it is Mr. Kozhemyako and the Khartia soldiers who provide a tangible example of Ukraine’s resilience.
