Vadym Kopylov was born on September 19, 1958, in Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov) (Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR). In 1980, he graduated from the Moscow State Mining University (specialty: mining engineer and economist).
- 1980–1984: mining master, district mining setter, chairman of Labor and Wages Department in Mine named XXII Congress of the CPSU of production association Stahanovvuhillya
- 1984–1989: chief economist, Mine named Kirov of production association Stahanovvuhillya
- 1989–1994: chairman of Planning and Economic Department, deputy general director - director of economics of production association Luganskvuhillya
- 1994–1996: deputy minister of Coal Industry
- 1996 - deputy general director of the production association Luganskvuhillya
- 1996–1998: chairman of General Department of enforcement of tax payments (State Tax Administration of Ukraine)
- 1998–2000: deputy chairman of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine
- July 14, 2000 – February 5, 2002: first deputy minister of Fuel and Energy - chairman of the board of Naftogaz Ukraine
- 2002–2003: deputy chairman of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine (again)
- 2003–2003: deputy state secretary (Ministry of Finance of Ukraine)
- 2003–2004: deputy minister of Finance
- 2004–2005: deputy chairman of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine (3d time)
- 2005–2006: chairman of the Supervisory Board of universal commercial bank Cambio
- 2006–2007: 1st deputy minister of Finance
- March 11, 2010 – December 28, 2010: 1st deputy minister of Finance (again)
- December 28, 2010 – 30 March 2012: 1st deputy minister of Economic Development and Trade
- February 14, 2012 – March 23, 2012: acting minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine