Colonel

Mykhailo Kurakh

The commander of 80th Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Forces

Born:

Birthplace:

unknown

Nationality:

Ukrainian

Branch of service:

Air Assault Troops

In 2012, he graduated from the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Army Academy, specializing in the management of airmobile units. From April 2015 to March 2017, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine as a company commander within the 80th Air Assault Brigade, taking part in combat operations near Sloviansk and in the defense of Luhansk Airport.

Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he continued service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and later served as Chief of Staff of the 95th Air Assault Brigade. Since 2025, he has served as commander of the 80th Air Assault Brigade, leading the unit during defensive operations in Terny in Donetsk Oblast and later in the Kursk direction, where the brigade engaged in sustained combat operations against Russian forces.