The Ukrainian billionaire whose battalion delivered a blow to Putin

The Ukrainian billionaire whose battalion delivered a blow to Putin

Verity Bowman

Sat, January 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM UTC

6 min read

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Vsevolod Kozhemyako, the Ukrainian grain billionaire, considered his new job while playing Beethoven’s Für Elise on a grand piano in a dimly lit Kharkiv hotel, dressed in full military fatigues.

“Yes, I’m a businessman,” he said. “And now I’m a commander of a military unit in Ukraine.”

The light infantry battalion he founded nearly four years ago – the 13th “Khartia” Brigade – was a band of civilian volunteers financed by his fortune and the support of other wealthy donors.

This week, Khartia raised the Ukrainian flag over Kupiansk in a pushback of Vladimir Putin’s troops and a much-needed morale boost for a country struggling with shortages of men to defend its cities and energy to keep them warm.

It was a striking symbol that Kyiv’s forces are far from yielding to Russia’s “meat grinder” tactics and cemented the unit as one of the most effective at Ukraine’s disposal.

Ukraine's Khartia brigade released a video of them flying the country's flag over the city council building in Kupiansk — Ukraine’s Khartia brigade released a video of them flying the country’s flag over Kupiansk’s city council building

“The Kupiansk operation proves that through planning, trained commanders and staffs, and quality unit preparation – everything we call the Khartia method – you can successfully stop and destroy the enemy,” said Col Ihor Obolensky.

As Russia continues to make steady gains in a grinding war of attrition along the roughly 600-mile front line, it is a statement that Kyiv hopes will be heard in Washington.

Mr Kozhemyako’s unit has transformed from a makeshift dream – an uneven mix of civilians and elite equipment – into a force leading precision counter-attacks on one of the war’s deadliest fronts.

The success of Khartia – referred to as the “billionaire’s brigade” – appears to have settled weeks of disputed claims by both Russia and Ukraine over control of the strategic city.

The 13th 'Khartia' Brigade — The brigade began as a band of civilian volunteers and is now one of the most effective fighting units

It has arrived at a moment when demonstrating strength could hardly be more crucial for Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.

Kupiansk, south east of Kharkiv, has been a hotspot for Russian “meat grinder” attacks – where Moscow crashes waves of soldiers against Ukrainian defences – for months now.

The city seemed on the brink of being overrun just a few weeks ago, but in a dramatic turnaround, Ukrainian troops said they had nearly expelled all Russian forces this week, raising the Ukrainian flag on top of the battered remains of the city’s council building on Monday.

Intelligence reports revealed a 1:27 kill ratio in the battle for the city, with 27 Russian soldiers lost for each Ukrainian.

Khartia was deployed alongside regular and less experienced units in the area, which came together to form a layered defence and attack model.

Ukrainian forces used this approach to absorb Russian assaults while preserving elite troops for decisive strikes.

The units slipped in quietly over the autumn, advancing through the forests surrounding Kupiansk before pushing into the city itself.

Khartia’s units focused on key points in Kupiansk, including rail crossings, river approaches and urban chokepoints, turning streets and industrial zones into concentrated kill 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 striking suddenly and withdrawing before Russian units could stabilise, Khartia inflicted disproportionate casualties and forced Russian troops into disorganised retreats.

Their presence also allowed Ukrainian forces to rotate less-experienced brigades into the line without compromising the overall defence.

Behind the victory stands Mr Kozhemyako, a businessman with a distinct personal profile that has captured the attention of the media for its eccentricities.

Before the war, his social media showed a life rich in travel and outdoor pursuits, from skiing in the Alps to yachting.

The 55-year-old father of four mixed 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 chief executive of Agrotrade Group, one of Ukraine’s largest grain producers and exporters. Today, however, his attention is fully on the war.

Vsevolod Kozhemyako enjoyed travelling the world for unique experiences such as skiing in the Alps — Mr Kozhemyako enjoyed travelling the world for unique experiences such as skiing in the Alps

Khartia was founded by Mr Kozhemyako in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine began, starting life as a volunteer unit attached to the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade in Kharkiv.

Operating independently from the Ukrainian army, but accepting its orders, Khartia took on its nickname as the “billionaire’s battalion” for its funding model and backing of numerous wealthy donors.

Military tracking sites estimate that Khartia’s manpower likely falls in the range of about 1,500 to 5,000 personnel.

Technically, the battalion is a territorial defence unit, a wartime necessity that will go away when the war is over.

“As soon as the wartime is finished, we are again civilians,” he said, nearly four years ago.

But today, his unit stands as an elite Ukrainian National Guard assault formation, specialising in swift counter-attacks, urban warfare and drone-enabled operations, and has distinguished itself as one of the most successful units around Kupiansk.

The raising of the Ukrainian flag over the city marks a significant victory at a moment when demonstrating military strength has never been more crucial on the world stage.

Mr Kozhemyako and a comrade in arms — Mr Kozhemyako, seen with a comrade in arms, shaped his unit into a force leading precision counter-attacks

In comments made this week, Donald Trump, the US president, asserted that Mr Zelensky – not Putin – is the main obstacle to reaching a peace deal to 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 have heightened the stakes for Kyiv, underscoring the need to prove that Ukrainian forces are capable, effective, and making tangible gains on the battlefield.

But for every Ukrainian victory, there is a setback. Some 150 miles away from Kupiansk, near the city of Huliaipole, its forces were pulling back – demonstrating Kyiv’s manpower shortages.

Its lack of personnel has forced it to use “firefighter” units, such as Khartia, to react to Russian pressure, which often leaves other fronts exposed.

Vsevolod Kozhemyako found a Donald Trump star on his travels — The grain billionaire found a Donald Trump star on his travels

This makes its successes even more important. Demonstrating battlefield success makes it far more difficult for Mr Trump to depict Ukraine as stagnant or incapable of altering the course of the conflict, according to experts.

“Ukraine’s recent successes around Kupiansk are crucial to show that it will not capitulate as some in the White House think, and quite the converse, it is Ukraine now making ground,” Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a military expert and former tank commander, told The Telegraph.

“Putin is desperate for Trump to pull the plug on Ukraine, and Trump has been looking elsewhere, even blaming Zelensky for lack of progress on the peace plan when nearly everyone else is blaming him and the Russian leader.”

Amid these high-stakes political debates, it is Mr Kozhemyako and the soldiers of Khartia who have provided a tangible demonstration of Ukraine’s resilience.

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