Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi

Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi was born in 1973 in Dnipro, Ukraine. After graduating from the Military Engineer and Space Academy in St Petersburg, he was assigned as the platoon leader of an anti-tank guided missile battery, before serving as a company commander, chief reconnaissance officer, assistant to the chief artillery officer, and chief of staff of an airmobile battalion in the 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. In 2006, he graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. From February 2007 to September 2009 he was chief of staff, 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade, and in 2009–10 he was the commander of the Ukrainian national contingent of the Joint Ukrainian-Polish battalion in KFOR, Kosovo. After completion of his tour of duty in Kosovo, he continued his service as chief of staff, 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade. His last assignment was as commander of 95th Separate Airmobile Brigade from December 2013 to December 2014, after which he was promoted to Major General. From 15 December 2014 he was assigned as the Airborne Forces Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Promoted to Lieutenant General, he became commander of the Joint Forces Operations area. Today he serves as First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Supreme Council of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence. He has been awarded with state awards, including the Golden Star (with the Hero of Ukraine status), Danylo Halytskiy Award ІІІ class, and Bohdan Khmelnytskiy Award III class, as well as military Distinguished Service Medal І and ІІ classes, and the Military Virtue Medal. In 2012, he was also awarded by the Minister of Defence of Ukraine with personal arms.