Chosen
Chosen Company is a multinational volunteer military unit that fought for Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Chosen Company was a multinational volunteer military unit associated with Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The formation began in 2022 under the name 312th Swedish Volunteer Company, although its personnel were not limited to Swedish citizens. Volunteers reportedly came from more than 31 countries, with Americans forming the largest national group. Its early organization was connected with Ukraine’s International Legion, a framework established to incorporate foreign volunteers into the country’s defense forces. The unit was initially led by Swedish military veteran Edvard Selander Patrignani. He was killed in combat on 18 July 2022. Following his death, the formation moved to the Kherson front and was placed under Ukraine’s 126th Territorial Defense Brigade. At the beginning of 2023, it adopted the name Chosen Company, reflecting its increasingly multinational composition rather than its earlier Swedish association. The company subsequently became attached to the 59th Motorized Brigade and participated in Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive. By July 2024, the reported structure comprised two rifle platoons, a reconnaissance platoon, a drone squad, a pioneer squad, and a support platoon. This organization indicates a small combined-arms formation with infantry, reconnaissance, unmanned-aerial, engineering, and logistical capabilities. In October 2024, the unit joined the 49th Special Purpose Detachment of the Security Service of Ukraine. Chosen Company also became the subject of allegations concerning the treatment and killing of Russian prisoners of war. In 2024, German medical officer Caspar Grosse described three alleged incidents to The New York Times. The newspaper reported that the accounts were supported by contemporaneous notes, video material, and messages exchanged by members of the unit. The allegations concerned shootings and a grenade attack involving Russian personnel who were reportedly wounded, unarmed, or surrendering. Messages reviewed by the newspaper were also said to refer to the killing of prisoners. Commander Ryan O’Leary denied that the incidents occurred and criticized the reporting, asserting that additional footage had been offered to the newspaper but not used. The available reference material does not establish a final judicial finding or criminal conviction against the unit. In May 2025, O’Leary announced that Chosen Company had been disbanded and said he would issue a further statement after his contract ended. He later stated that the unit had suffered 12 personnel killed in action and approximately 60 wounded during his command. In June 2025, he publicly criticized the Ukrainian government’s legal and institutional treatment of foreign volunteers and alleged serious problems in the Ukrainian officer corps, including cronyism and Soviet-style decision-making. He also accused former 59th Assault Brigade commander Bogdan Shevchuk of ordering inexperienced intelligence personnel into assault operations and assigning troops to positions that could not be adequately supported. These were O’Leary’s public allegations and are not presented here as independently established facts. Reference material records a further statement on 10 May 2026 that the unit was being activated again, leaving its ultimate operational status unclear.
History
Chosen Company originated in 2022 during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was first identified as the 312th Swedish Volunteer Company and was connected with the International Legion framework used by Ukraine to organize foreign volunteers. Despite the original name, the formation drew personnel from more than 31 countries, particularly the United States. Swedish military veteran Edvard Selander Patrignani served as its initial commander. Patrignani was killed in combat on 18 July 2022. After his death, the unit moved to the Kherson front and was placed under the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade. At the beginning of 2023, the company changed its name to Chosen Company, a designation intended to better reflect the multinational character of its personnel. It later became attached to the 59th Motorized Brigade and took part in Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive. The reported organization in July 2024 included a first rifle platoon, second rifle platoon, third reconnaissance platoon, fourth drone squad, fifth pioneer squad, and sixth support platoon. The structure combined direct-action infantry elements with reconnaissance, unmanned-aircraft, engineering, and support functions. In October 2024, the formation reportedly joined the 49th Special Purpose Detachment of Ukraine’s Security Service. The company attracted international scrutiny in 2024 after The New York Times published allegations concerning the killing of Russian prisoners of war. German medical officer Caspar Grosse described three incidents and said they involved members of Chosen Company. The newspaper reported that his accounts were supported by notes, video footage, and unit messages. The reported incidents included the alleged shooting of a wounded Russian soldier, an alleged grenade attack against a Russian who had raised his hands, and messages apparently referring to the killing of prisoners during another operation. Ryan O’Leary rejected the allegations, described the article as a hostile tabloid-style attack, and said the unit had offered additional video evidence that was not included. The available material does not provide a definitive legal resolution. In May 2025, O’Leary announced that the unit had been disbanded, while indicating that he remained bound by a contract. He later said that the unit had suffered 12 killed in action and about 60 wounded during his command. In June, he criticized Ukraine’s handling of foreign volunteers and alleged that parts of the Ukrainian officer corps were characterized by cronyism and outdated decision-making. He also accused former 59th Assault Brigade commander Bogdan Shevchuk of using inexperienced personnel in assault missions and assigning troops to positions that were difficult or impossible to reach. These statements are attributed allegations rather than independently verified conclusions. A later statement dated 10 May 2026 reportedly said that Chosen Company was being activated again. Because the available account contains both a reported disbanding and a later reported reactivation, the unit’s present status should be treated as uncertain.
- 2026
Reported reactivation
[1]Reference material records O’Leary stating on 10 May 2026 that the unit was being activated again.
- 2025
Reported disbanding
[1]Ryan O’Leary announced on 26 May 2025 that Chosen Company had been disbanded.
- 2024
Reported transfer to the 49th Special Purpose Detachment
[1]In October 2024, the unit reportedly joined the 49th Special Purpose Detachment of Ukraine’s Security Service.
- 2023
Renaming as Chosen Company
[1]The formation adopted the Chosen Company name to reflect its multinational composition and became attached to the 59th Motorized Brigade.
- 2023
Participation in Ukraine’s counteroffensive
[1]Chosen Company fought during Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive.
- 2022
Formation as the 312th Swedish Volunteer Company
[1]The volunteer unit was formed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and operated within the broader International Legion framework.
- 2022
Death of initial commander
[1]Edvard Selander Patrignani, the unit’s initial commander, was killed in combat on 18 July 2022.
- 2022
Transfer to the Kherson front
[1]After Patrignani’s death, the unit moved to the Kherson front and was placed under the 126th Territorial Defense Brigade.
Products and positioning
A multinational volunteer military formation serving Ukraine, with an identity built around foreign volunteers and a mixed infantry, reconnaissance, drone, engineering, and support structure.
Controversies
2024
Allegations concerning killings of Russian prisoners of war
The New York Times reported allegations from German medical officer Caspar Grosse describing three incidents in which Chosen Company members allegedly killed Russian prisoners or suspected prisoners. The report cited contemporaneous notes, videos, and text messages. Ryan O’Leary denied that the incidents occurred and disputed the newspaper’s reporting. The available reference material does not establish a final legal determination.
Brand decisions
2025
Reported disbandingStrategyBackground
Ryan O’Leary announced that the unit had ended operations, while saying that a fuller statement would follow after his contract ended.
Action taken
O’Leary publicly announced the disbanding of Chosen Company.
Aftermath
In June 2025, O’Leary attributed the decision to alleged problems in Ukrainian military leadership and treatment of foreign volunteers. A later 2026 statement reportedly announced reactivation.
2024
Transfer to the 49th Special Purpose DetachmentM&ABackground
The unit’s organizational affiliation changed during the continuing war.
Action taken
In October 2024, Chosen Company reportedly joined the 49th Special Purpose Detachment of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Aftermath
The transfer placed the unit within a special-purpose security-service formation, although the available material does not describe its operational consequences.
2023
Adoption of the Chosen Company identityStrategyBackground
The original 312th Swedish Volunteer Company label no longer represented a formation whose personnel came from many countries.
Action taken
The unit adopted the Chosen Company name and continued under the 59th Motorized Brigade.
Aftermath
The new name emphasized the unit’s multinational identity while it participated in the 2023 counteroffensive.
Recent events
- 2026
Chosen Company reportedly activated again[1]
Other
Reference material records a 10 May 2026 statement by O’Leary that Chosen Company was being activated again.
- 2025
O’Leary announces the reported disbanding of Chosen Company[1]
Other
On 26 May 2025, Ryan O’Leary announced on X that the unit had been disbanded and said he would publish a further statement after his contract ended.
- 2025
O’Leary criticizes Ukraine’s treatment of foreign volunteers[1]
Other
On 3 June 2025, O’Leary criticized the legal status and institutional treatment of foreign volunteers serving in Ukraine, alleging unequal treatment and a lack of meritocratic advancement.
- 2025
O’Leary explains reported disbanding and criticizes Ukrainian military leadership[1]
Leadership change · Other
On 16 June 2025, O’Leary attributed the reported disbanding to what he described as poor quality, cronyism, and Soviet-style thinking in the Ukrainian officer corps. He also made allegations about decisions by a former brigade commander.
- 2024
Chosen Company reportedly joins a Ukrainian special-purpose formation[1]
Other
The unit reportedly joined the 49th Special Purpose Detachment of Ukraine’s Security Service in October 2024.
Sources3 sources
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