Legendary Major General Drapaty has taken on a new role: here's what you need to know about him.
On Sunday, January 26, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of Major General Mykhailo Drapaty as the head of the Operational-Strategic Group of Troops "Khortytsia". He will also continue to serve as the commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Drapaty is a legendary commander who has consistently demonstrated bravery on the battlefield and has received numerous awards. "Telegraph" shares insights into how Major General Drapaty built his military career and the reasons for his respect among military personnel.
What is known about Mykhailo Drapaty
Born on November 21, 1982, in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. After completing secondary school, he became a cadet at the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops named after the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Upon graduating 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 OMBr.
The Legendary Breakthrough on BMP in the Center of Mariupol
In May 2014, Drapaty organized a legendary breakthrough by his brigade into the center of Mariupol, which had been captured by the occupiers, to reinforce the units repelling the assault by separatists on the local police station and to free hostages.
Video footage of the assault on the barricade using BMP circulated around the world.
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. At that time, they took control of the border area near the settlements of Amvrosiivka, Zelene Pole, Marynivka, and Dovzhanskyi, holding positions at Saur-Mohyla and Chervonopartyzansk, and aimed to reach the border to cut off the Russian army from logistical support.
Due to shelling from "Grad" and "Uragan" systems, military personnel and border guards found themselves in a fire ring. They were at the furthest point of the encircled area, with little supply reaching them as 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 commission.
At that time, 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, armed, led the troops from Chervonopartyzansk in a breakthrough. They advanced along the edge of the border with Russia, catching the enemy by surprise.
They managed to reach Zelene Pole and then executed the second phase of their breakthrough, exiting the so-called "Izvarine Cauldron". Drapaty then led more than a thousand people to safety.
Further Military Service
Subsequently, Drapaty's battalion was sent to Volnovakha, and in 2014 he began training at the National Defense University of Ukraine. During this time, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Shortly thereafter, Drapaty transferred to part-time studies and returned to the ATO zone as the first deputy commander of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
In 2016, he commanded the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade stationed in Donetsk Oblast.
Since 2017, Drapaty became the brigade commander directly in the ATO zone and led operations in the Bakhmut highway area.
In April 2019, Drapaty was prematurely promoted to the rank of Colonel.
It was Drapaty who was among those who commanded the liberation of the right bank of Kherson in 2022.
Until January 2024, Drapaty led the "Kherson" operational group, and in February he was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff for military training.
In May 2024, following the onset of a new Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, Colonel Drapaty took command of the "Kharkiv" operational group and under his leadership, Ukrainian forces managed to halt the advance of enemy troops in the region.
In September 2024, Drapaty led the "Luhansk" operational group and commanded operations from Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast to New York in Donetsk Oblast.
On October 5, 2024, Brigadier General Drapaty received 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 of Military Merit 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 Yurii Halushkin, who was sent back to pre-trial detention.