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13th Khartiia Brigade
The 13th Khartiia Brigade (Ukrainian: хартія, lit. 'Charter', also spelled Khartia) is a combat brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine formed in 2022.[1] Khartiia was founded by the volunteers to fight off the invaders from the Kharkiv region. It has also seen action in Bakhmut, Soledar, Ocheretyne and Serebrianskiy Forest. In 2023 Khartiia was reformed as a brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. HistoryUkrainian businessman Vsevolod Kozhemyako, CEO of the Agrotrade Group, founded Khartiia at the outset of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The unit was formed in March 2022 by the volunteers, initially it was a part of the 127th Territorial Defense Brigade. Igor “Cornet” Obolienskiy, the National Guard of Ukraine colonel who rejoined the army in 2022 after a three-year stint in business, led Khartiia's military development.
In spring 2022 Khartiia fought off the Russian invaders near Kharkiv and liberated Ruska Lozova along with other Ukrainian forces. Khartiia was one of the first Ukrainian units to reach the border with Russia during the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in September 2022. In December 2022 Khartiia was the only Ukrainian volunteer military unit in the battle of Bakhmut.  In 2023 Khartiia was reformed as a brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine – less than a year after it was founded. Early May 2024 saw the brigade fighting in Ocheretyne and Serebriansky Forest. In late May 2024 Khartiia's fighters stopped the massive Russian attack on Kharkiv. Commanders
Mission planning and NATO interoperabilityKhartiia's motto is “We're building the new Ukrainian army”. The brigade uses the protocols of military decision-making process (MDMP) and troop leading procedures (TLP), as well as modern SOPs (standard operating procedures). Khartiia conducts after-action reviews to make the most of every mission. The unit also uses the NATO-standard S-structure of the brigade staff. “We’re here to set a new example and build the new Ukrainian armed forces. Taking care of our fighters, military planning according to NATO standards and modern management methods – that's what Khartiia stands for,” the brigade states.[3] RecruitmentKhartiia launched its first recruiting campaign in 2023.[4] “[We] guarantee 60 days of military training” was the campaign's slogan.[5] The brigade's commander Igor Obolienskiy, military medic Kalyna and the ISTAR unit head Bit were chosen to be the faces of the next recruitment drive. In 2024 the prominent Ukrainian poet, novelist, musician and a long-time Khartiia supporter Serhiy Zhadan joined the ranks of the brigade.[6] Ukrainian historian and the Istorychna Pravda website editor-in-chief Vakhtang Kipiani joined up in 2024.[7] In July 2024 the French philosopher and writer Bernard-Henri Levy paid a visit to the Khartia fighters.[8] In September 2024 the historian Timothy Snyder visited Khartiia in the Kharkiv region.[9] In October 2024 the brigade welcomed the minister of defense of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans.[10] Traditions and symbolsSerhiy Zhadan proposed the name Khartiia, combining the term “charter” in Ukrainian with Kharkiv, the unit's hometown.[2] Zhadan also wrote the official anthem of the brigade, performing it with his band Zhadan and Sobaky. The Khartiia emblem is a variation of the coat of arms of the Kharkiv Sloboda Cossack Regiment, a bow with an arrow, tightly drawn. It also contains a stylized letter "X", which refers both to the name of the unit and to its origins in Kharkiv. MemorializationKhartiia makes a point to pay respects to its fallen heroes, regularly featuring their obituaries on the official social media pages. The Khartiia patronage service was formed in 2024. Its mission is to take care of the wounded soldiers and support the families of the fighters killed in action.[11] Further reading
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