Ukrainian grain billionaire Vsevolod Kozhemyako 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 am a businessman,” he said. “And now I’m a commander of a military unit in Ukraine.”
The light infantry battalion he founded almost four years ago – the 13th “Khartia” Brigade – was a group of civilian volunteers funded by his fortune and the support of other wealthy donors.
This week, Khartia raised the Ukrainian flag over Kupiansk in a crackdown on Vladimir Putin’s troops and is a much-needed morale boost for a country struggling with a lack of men to defend its cities and energy to keep them warm.
It was an impressive symbol that the forces of Kiev are far from giving in to the tactics of Russia “grind the meat” and consolidated the unit as one of the most effective at the disposal of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Khartia brigade released a video of them flying the country’s flag over the Kupiansk city council building
“The Kupiansk operation shows that through planning, trained commanders and staff, and quality unit preparation – all that we call the Khartia method – you can successfully stop and destroy the enemy,” said Col Ihor Obolensky.
As Russia continues to make solid gains in a grinding war of attrition along the roughly 600-mile front line, it’s a statement Kiev hopes will be heard in Washington.
Mr. Kozhemyako’s unit has transformed from a makeshift dream – an uneven mix of civilians and elite equipment – to a force leading precision counterattacks on one of the deadliest fronts of the war.
The success of Khartia – dubbed the “billionaire’s 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 fighting units
It has arrived at a moment when the demonstration of health could hardly be more crucial for Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.
Kupiansk, southeast of Kharkiv, has been a hotspot for Russian “meat grinder” attacks – where Moscow crashes waves of soldiers against Ukrainian defenses – for months.
The city appeared on the brink of being overrun a few weeks ago, but in a dramatic turnaround, Ukrainian troops said they had driven out almost all Russian forces this week, and on Monday they raised the Ukrainian flag over the battered ruins of the city council building.
Intelligence reports revealed a kill ratio of 1:27 in the battle for the city, with 27 Russian soldiers lost for every Ukrainian.
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Khartia was deployed alongside regular and less experienced units in the area, joining together to form a layered defense and attack pattern.
Ukrainian forces used this approach to absorb Russian attacks while preserving elite troops for decisive attacks.
The units moved in quietly during the autumn, advancing through the forests surrounding Kupiansk before pushing into the city itself.
Khartia units focused on key points in Kupiansk, including railroad crossings, river approaches and urban chokepoints, turning roads and industrial areas into concentrated killing zones for advancing Russian forces.
Credit: X / @khatiia_
The brigade’s operations depended on careful reconnaissance, mobility and coordination with artillery and drone teams.
By striking suddenly and retreating before the Russian units could stabilise, Khartia inflicted disproportionate casualties and forced the Russian troops into a disorganized retreat.
Their presence also allowed Ukrainian forces to rotate less experienced brigades into the line without compromising the overall defense.
Behind the victory is Mr. Kozhemyako, a businessman with a distinguished personal profile who attracted the attention of the media 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 mixes 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 focus 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 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, and began life as a volunteer unit attached to the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade in Kharkiv.
Operating independently of the Ukrainian army, but accepting its orders, Khartia earned its nickname as the “billionaire battalion” for its funding model and the support of numerous wealthy donors.
Military tracking sites estimate that Khartia’s workforce likely falls in the range of around 1,500 to 5,000 personnel.
Technically, the battalion is a territorial defense unit, a wartime necessity that will leave when the war is over.
“As soon as the time of war ends, we will be civilians again,” he said, almost four years ago.
But today, his unit stands as an elite assault formation of the National Guard of Ukraine, specializing in fast counterattacks, 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 time when the demonstration of military strength has never been more crucial on the world stage.
Mr Kozhemyako, who appeared with his comrades in arms, formed his unit into a force leading to precision counter-attacks
In comments made this week, Donald Trump, the American President, claimed that Mr Zelensky – not Putin – is the main obstacle to reaching a peace agreement to end the war.
“I think he’s willing to make a deal. I think Ukraine is less willing to make a deal,” Mr Trump told Reuters.
The president’s comments raised the stakes for Kyiv, emphasizing 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 town of Huliaipole, her forces were retreating – showing Kiev’s lack of manpower.
Its lack of personnel forced it to use “firefighting” units, such as Khartia, to react to Russian pressure, which often leaves other fronts exposed.
The grain billionaire found a Donald Trump star in his travels
This makes her successes even more important. Demonstrating success on the battlefield makes it much more difficult for Mr. Trump to portray Ukraine as stagnant or incapable of changing 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 on the contrary, now Ukraine is making ground,” said Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a military expert and former tank commander, to The Telegraph.
“Putin is desperate for Trump to pull the plug on Ukraine, and Trump has been looking elsewhere, even blaming Zelensky for the lack of progress on the peace plan when almost everyone else is blaming him and the Russian leader.”
Among these political debates of great interest, it is Mr. Kozhemyako and the soldiers of Khartia who have provided a tangible demonstration of Ukraine’s resilience.