A look inside the Ukrainian 'billionaire's battalion' fighting Russian forces

[Nevilledog]

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NPR
@NPR
One of Ukraine's wealthiest men, Vsevolod Kozhemyako, has set up his own battalion to fight Russian forces. He funds, trains and leads a light infantry unit on the front lines.

npr.org
A look inside the Ukrainian 'billionaire's battalion' fighting Russian forces
Vsevolod Kozhemyako, one of Ukraine's wealthiest men, has set up his own battalion to fight Russian forces. He funds, trains and leads a light infantry unit on the front lines.
6:38 PM · Jun 1, 2022

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/31/1102097092/ukraine-kharkiv-billionaire-battalion-vsevolod-kozhemyako

KHARKIV, Ukraine — One of Ukraine's wealthiest men is seated at a white piano in the lobby of a closed-down hotel in Ukraine's second-largest city. The multistory atrium is dark except for a few running lights along the edge of the carpet. Cardboard covers all the windows.

Wearing military fatigues, Vsevolod Kozhemyako is alone at the piano near the elevators, playing a slow, mournful rendition of Beethoven's Für Elise. The notes seep into the cavernous space.

Kozhemyako is the founder and CEO of Agrotrade Group, one of Ukraine's largest grain production, storage and export companies. But his focus is now on the war.

"Yes, I'm a businessman," he says. "And now I'm a commander of a military unit in Ukraine."

Kozhemyako set up and leads his own light infantry battalion. It's formally known as Khartia or "charter," and consists mostly of civilians. It's casually called the "billionaire's battalion," referring to Kozhemyako's wealth in Ukrainian currency, not dollars. Along with other wealthy Ukrainians, Kozhemyako pays for training, weapons and vehicles. His unit takes orders from the army but operates independently.

*snip*

[TomSlick]

1. Good on him.

Imagine, putting his country first. What a novel concept for the wealthy.

[alittlelark]

2. Ours just make up for something in dick shaped space vehicles.

[Raine]

3. These are the kind of wealthy people that the world needs

more of!

[Calculating]

4. Our wealthy would probably join Russia

For a slice of the pie.