Significant personnel changes are taking place in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. So, late on Tuesday, July 21, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty as the new Commander-in-Chief. Many have already stated that this is not just a rotation, but a bet on the combat experience that he began to gain since the ATO in the position of an ordinary battalion commander, with the strategic thinking of an officer, whose name has become synonymous with successful breakthroughs in the most difficult conditions.
Who is Mykhailo Drapaty?
This is a professional who has gone from major to commander. Why is his biography a ready-made story for a military blockbuster? We tell you in detail.
The legend of the “Mariupol breakthrough” and rescue from the “Izvaryn Cauldron”. Mykhailo Drapaty’s military career was forged in the hottest spots of the beginning of Russian aggression. In May 2014, as a major and commanding the 2nd battalion of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade, he led an armored group to break through to help the surrounded Ukrainian security forces in Mariupol. For reference, we provide a link to this historical video below.
However, the real test awaited him in August 2014 during the exit from the so-called ” Izvaryn Cauldron “. In conditions of complete encirclement and under constant artillery fire directly from the territory of the Russian Federation, Drapatiy showed extraordinary leadership. He took command and took responsibility for the extremely difficult breakthrough. Thanks to his determination, it was possible to withdraw more than 260 fighters and about 30 units of heavy equipment from under fire.
The path of a professional: from a combat soldier to a “Gold Medal”
Many military personnel note that Mykhailo Drapatiy is a combination of colossal practical experience and thorough military education.
- Career takeoff: He successfully passed all levels of command, starting with the battalion commander and ending with the position of commander of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky.
- Education: He confirmed his professional level at the National Defense University of Ukraine, which he graduated with a gold medal.
Architect of victories in the South and North (2022–2025)
With the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Drapaty headed the operational group of troops “Kryvyi Rih”. It was under his leadership that the advance of enemy forces in the southern direction was stopped, which later became the foundation for the brilliant liberation of the right-bank Kherson region.
His competencies proved to be critically important in other areas of the front while extinguishing local “fires”:
- February 2024: Appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he was responsible for personnel training.
- May 2024: Led the Kharkiv Regional Military District during a critical moment — the repeated Russian offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region. He managed to stabilize the front in the areas of Vovchansk and Lyptsi.
- January 2025: Led the operational-strategic group of troops “Khortytsia”.
- June 2025: Officially appointed Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while continuing to command the Khortytsia Joint Forces Command.
Recognition and awards
Mykhailo Drapaty is one of the few officers whose services have been awarded the highest state awards. He is a full holder of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky (has I, II, and III degrees). In 2022, for his outstanding personal contribution to the defense of sovereignty, he was awarded the “Cross of Military Merit.”
Interim summary from the president: The appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty is a signal of strengthening the professional component in the management of troops. His experience in the de-occupation of territories and the ability to withdraw units from critical situations gives great hope.
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