Legendary Major General Drapaty may be appointed to a new position: here's what you need to know about him.

On Saturday, January 25, media outlets reported that the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is planning to appoint Major General Mykhailo Drapaty as the commander of the Operational-Strategic Group of Forces "Khortytsia." He currently serves as the acting commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Drapaty is a legendary commander who has repeatedly demonstrated bravery on the battlefield and has been awarded numerous honors. "Telegraph" discusses how Major General Drapaty built his military career and the actions that earned him respect among military personnel.

What is known about Mykhailo Drapaty

He was born on November 21, 1982, in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. After graduating from high school, he became a cadet at the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops named after the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

After completing his studies in 2004, Lieutenant Mykhailo Drapaty began his military service in the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. In 2014, he commanded the 2nd mechanized battalion of the 72nd Brigade.

The Legendary Breakthrough on BMP in the Center of Mariupol

In May 2014, Drapaty organized a legendary breakthrough of his brigade into the center of Mariupol, which had been captured by the occupiers, to reinforce the units defending against the separatist assault on the local police station and to rescue hostages.

Videos of the assault on the barricade using BMPs circulated worldwide.

Withdrawal of the Battalion from the "Izvarine Cauldron"

After Mariupol, the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 72nd Brigade were sent on a raid along the border with Russia. They took control of the border area near the settlements of Amvrosiivka, Zelenopillia, Marivka, and Dovzhanskyi, held positions at Saur-Mohyla and Chervonopartyzansk, and aimed to reach the border and cut off the Russian army from logistical support.

Due to shelling from "Grad" and "Uragan" systems, the military and border guards found themselves in a fire ring. They were at the furthest point of the encircled area, with almost no supplies reaching them—convoys could not break through the minefields and under fire from Russian artillery. Ammunition was running low, and most of the equipment was out of service.

At that point, the commander of the 2nd battalion of the 72nd brigade, Major Mykhailo Drapaty, gathered the scattered units, prepared all available equipment that could be repaired for battle, and led his troops from Chervonopartyzansk in a breakout. They advanced along the very edge of the border with Russia, catching the enemy by surprise.

They managed to reach Zelenopillia and then carried out the second phase of their breakthrough, exiting the so-called "Izvarine Cauldron." Drapaty then led over a thousand personnel to safety.

Subsequent Military Service

Subsequently, Drapaty's battalion was sent to Volnovakha, and in 2014 he enrolled in the National Defense University of Ukraine. At that time, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Shortly thereafter, Drapaty switched to part-time studies and returned to the ATO zone as the first deputy commander of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

In 2016, he was the commander of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade stationed in Donetsk Oblast.

Since 2017, Drapaty has been the brigade commander directly in the ATO zone and led operations around the Bakhmut highway.

In April 2019, Drapaty was prematurely promoted to the rank of colonel.

Drapaty was one of those who commanded the liberation of the right bank of Kherson in 2022.

Until January 2024, Drapaty led the operational group "Kherson," and in February, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for military training.

In May 2024, following the start of a new Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, the colonel took command of the OTS "Kharkiv" and under his leadership, Ukrainian forces were able to halt the advance of enemy troops in the region.

In September 2024, Drapaty took command of the OTS "Luhansk" and directed operations from Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast to New York in Donetsk Oblast.

On October 5, 2024, Brigadier General Drapaty was promoted to the rank of Major General.

On November 29, 2024, Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Drapaty as the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine.

Awards of Mykhailo Drapaty

Mykhailo Drapaty is a full cavalier of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

He has also been awarded the Cross for Combat Merits and the Order of "People's Hero of Ukraine."

Previously, "Telegraph" reported that two generals and a colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were detained for the failure of the defense of Kharkiv. One of them is Brigadier General Yuriy Halushkin, who was re-sent to pre-trial detention.