Main points
- Vitaliy Kozlovsky served in various military units, including the National Guard and the mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but was discharged to the reserve due to family circumstances.
- After being discharged from military service, Kozlovsky allegedly engaged in patronage services from a charitable foundation.
Vitaliy Kozlovsky / Collage of Channel 24
In June 2023, it became known that the performer had joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During his service, Vitaliy Kozlovsky served in various military units, and today he has already returned to the sphere of show business.
- 1 Why did Kozlovsky decide to mobilize and where did he serve?
- 2 How did Vitaliy Kozlovskyi resign from the service and what does he say about it?
Questions about Vitaliy Kozlovsky's military service often surface online, as some readers don't believe that the artist served the same amount of time as other servicemen, and some don't understand how it's so easy to leave the army. Therefore, Channel 24 decided to share what is known on this topic and how the singer answers questions about his military service.
Why did Kozlovsky decide to mobilize and where did he serve?
The performer recently gave an interview to OBOZ.UA, where he explained that the decision to mobilize was influenced by a feeling of guilt over the concert in Moscow on May 9, 2018.
Maybe that's why I felt the need to go and defend my country, to volunteer. That was one of the reasons why
– suggests Kozlovsky.
Vitaliy added that he needed to feel that he was benefiting society and the country.
First, he joined the Rubizh brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine and served in the Donbas in an artillery unit. Kozlovsky recalled that he once almost died at the front. This happened in late November 2023, when his and his comrades' positions were shelled by the invaders for 3 hours.
After some time, he was transferred to another unit stationed in Kyiv. Later, he began serving in the National Presidential Orchestra as a driver.
Vitaly Kozlovsky / Photo from the singer's Instagram
The artist does not remember this experience very positively: according to him, it was “the most terrible hazing.”
In the spring of 2024, Kozlovsky began serving in the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the Sumy region, and later began to engage in patronage service.
In March 2025, the singer's former producer, Igor Kondratyuk, stated that the performer had not served in the military for a long time.
The producer recalled a conversation with Petr Kuzyk, commander of the Svoboda battalion. He reacted negatively when the artist joined the unit.
He told me that he was humiliated by being counted among Kozlovsky,
– Kondratyuk concluded.
How did Vitaliy Kozlovskyi resign from the service and what does he say about it?
In September 2025, the public learned that at the end of June, the singer was discharged to the reserve for family reasons.
In response to a request from journalists, the Communications Department of the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine responded that from May 23, 2024, the singer was appointed a reserve soldier of the 3rd reserve platoon of the 90th reserve company of military unit A4718.
Vitaliy Kozlovsky's duties included: participating in training sessions and giving speeches to the military to support morale.
Released to the reserve due to family circumstances or other valid reasons (if the servicemen did not express a desire to continue military service), namely: the need to provide constant care for a wife (husband) from among persons with disabilities of group I or II. He handed over his affairs and position,
– noted in the Land Forces.
In fact, he stayed in the unit for less than two weeks.
Vitaly Kozlovsky / Photo from Instagram
Interestingly, in May 2025, before the statement of the Land Forces Command, Kozlovsky gave an interview to Maricka Padalko, where he stated that he was now engaged in patronage service together with his brother. However, the official request contains the opposite information.
Vitaliy Kozlovskyi does not perform patronage service after his release in relation to military unit A4718 and was not placed at his disposal.
– reported in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The singer's press service assured that Kozlovsky provides patronage services on behalf of the “Ray of Help” charitable foundation of the 22nd Motorized Rifle Brigade.
The other day, a journalist from the “Tour of the Stars” project asked the artist if he could dot all the “i”s on the issue of his military service and why he was discharged to the reserve.
I will definitely tell this story when the war is over: what happened, where I was. But I can definitely say that I was in the artillery, and a musician, and I had other obligations. After the war, I will tell this story in full so that the picture is clear to everyone,
– answered Kozlovsky.
Today, Vitaliy performs concerts, releases new songs, and also raises his little son Oscar.