In its unique composition, up to 2,000 fighters are engaged.
The "Charter" brigade, created by a grain billionaire, played a key role in the liberation of Kupiansk and became a symbol of Ukraine's resilience. Vsevolod Kozhemyako radically changed his life after the start of the full-scale war. The former businessman and marathon runner traded his business suit for military uniform and founded one of Ukraine's most effective combat formations - the 13th "Charter" brigade, which is now referred to as the "billionaire's brigade."
In a dimly lit hotel in Kharkiv, Kozhemyako, dressed in full military gear, played Beethoven's "Für Elise" on the piano, reflecting on the new reality in a conversation with The Telegraph.
"Yes, I am a businessman," he said. "And now I am a commander of a military unit in Ukraine." The "Charter" was established in March 2022 as a volunteer unit of civilians, funded by Kozhemyako's personal funds and support from wealthy donors. Initially, the unit operated as part of the territorial defense of Kharkiv region, and later transformed into an elite assault formation of the National Guard of Ukraine.
According to military analysts, the brigade's strength ranges from 1,500 to 5,000 fighters. It specializes in rapid counterattacks, urban warfare, and drone operations.
"As soon as the wartime ends, we will become civilians again," Kozhemyako said nearly four years ago. This week, the "Charter" units raised the Ukrainian flag over Kupiansk - a city that had been under relentless pressure from Russian "meat grinder" attacks for several months. Just recently, the city was considered almost lost, but Ukrainian forces claimed to have nearly completely pushed out Russian troops.
Intelligence reports indicate that the casualty ratio in the battles for Kupiansk was 1 to 27 - for every Ukrainian soldier, there were 27 Russian soldiers.
Colonel Igor Obolensky called this success an example of a new approach to warfare:
"The Kupiansk operation proves that with planning, trained commanders and staffs, as well as quality training of units - all of which we call the Charter method - it is possible to successfully stop and destroy the enemy."
Tactics of Precision Strikes
During the operation, the "Charter" fighters acted in coordination with less experienced units, forming a multi-layered defense. Elite units were preserved for decisive strikes, advancing through forests and launching surprise attacks in the city.
Key targets included railway hubs, approaches to rivers, and narrow urban passages, which became zones of concentrated destruction for Russian troops. The operations relied on intelligence, mobility, and coordination with artillery and drones.
The success near Kupiansk became particularly important against the backdrop of political pressure on Kyiv. This week, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that, in his opinion, it is Vladimir Zelensky who is the main obstacle to a peace agreement, not Vladimir Putin.
These words raised the stakes for Ukraine, forcing Kyiv to demonstrate real successes on the battlefield. Military expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon noted:
"Recent successes of Ukraine near Kupiansk are crucial to show: it will not capitulate. It is Ukraine that is paving its way now, not Russia."
Despite the successes, Ukraine faces a severe shortage of personnel, being forced to redeploy "firefighter" units like "Charter" between the hottest spots on the front. This makes every victory even more significant.
Biography
Vsevolod Kozhemyako was born on May 17, 1972, in Poltava. He received his secondary education at Poltava School No. 10. After school, he moved to Kharkiv and enrolled at V. N. Karazin National University. In 1994, he graduated from Karazin University with a degree in English language and literature. In 2002, he graduated from the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management with a degree in organizational management. According to Forbes, Kozhemyako began his career as a translator in a small Western company that sold Ukrainian machinery products in Asian markets. He started building his own business in the 1990s.
"He supplied villagers with fuel, fertilizers, and spare parts, while selling their products to international traders," the article states.
In 1998, Kozhemyako founded the "Eastern Ukrainian Agro-Industrial Company," now known as the "Agrotrade" group. It specializes in the production, processing, and trading of grain and oilseed crops in Ukraine.
From 2000 to 2005, the company acquired several elevators and the bread-receiving enterprise "Doch-Hleb." Subsequently, the group expanded its activities in crop production and organic farming. In 2018, the group created its own seed brand.
After the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine in February 2022, two elevators of Kozhemyako's group came under occupation.
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