Mykhailo Vasylovych Drapatiy—a Ukrainian military officer, major general, and commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2025).
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on November 21, 1982, in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast.
After high school, he enrolled in the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Forces named after the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, from which he graduated in 2004.
He later began his service as a platoon commander in the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
In June 2017, he earned a master’s degree from the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine. From 2019 to 2021, he continued his studies as a non-degree student.
Career
From 2004 to 2016, Drapatiy served in various units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). In particular, he served in the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Novohrad-Volynskyi, where he held the position of chief of staff—first deputy commander.
From August 2016 to August 2019, he commanded the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. The unit carried out combat missions in Avdiivka, the Yasinuvata district, and along the Bakhmut highway.
In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
As of early 2022, he served as deputy commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for troop training.
In March 2022, he was appointed deputy commander of the “South” Operational Command (OC) and also took command of the “South” Force Group (FG).
The Period of Full-Scale War
From 2022 to 2024, he commanded the “Kherson” Operational Group of Forces (OGF) as part of the “Odessa” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSGF).
In February 2024, Drapatiy assumed the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for Troop Training.
After the Russian occupiers launched their offensive in the Kharkiv region in May, he took command of the “Kharkiv” Operational-Tactical Group (OTG), while continuing to serve in the General Staff.
In September, he was appointed commander of the “Luhansk” Operational-Tactical Group. His area of responsibility extends from Bilohorivka to New York in the Donetsk region.
On November 29, he took command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Ground Forces, and on January 26, 2025, he became commander of the “Khortytsia” Joint Forces Operation.
On June 1, he submitted his resignation following a missile strike on the Army training ground in Sumy Oblast. He was subsequently appointed commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On October 20, following changes to the structure of the Defense Forces, he took command of the newly formed Joint Forces Group.
Awards and Military Ranks
In April 2019, he was promoted to colonel; on December 6, 2021, he became a brigadier general; and on October 5, 2024, he became a major general.
Drapato’s awards include:
- Cross of Military Merit, dated July 27, 2022;
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class—August 22, 2016;
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 2nd Class—March 15, 2018;
- Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 1st Class — July 21, 2022.
Marital Status
He is married and is raising his son Ivan and his daughter Anna.
