A member of the Party of Regions, he served as President of the Kharkiv Oblast Council from 2005 to 2006.
In 1986, he graduated from the Kharkiv Petro Vasylenko National Technical University of Agriculture with a degree in mechanical engineering.
In July 1997, he started working for the Kharkiv Regional State Administration [uk] before directing a gas complex in Bezliudivka.
On 15 February 2005, Shapovalov was elected President of the Kharkiv Oblast Council, serving until 28 April 2006.
On 31 October 2010, he was re-elected to the Kharkiv Oblast Council and served as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fuel and Energy, Housing and Communal Services, Industry, Construction, Transport, Roads and Communications.