Mykolaiv Territorial Community

History

Founded in 1789, Mykolaiv is located at the confluence of the Southern Buh and Inhul rivers. The city was created as a shipbuilding center to meet the needs of the Black Sea Fleet. The city was founded by Prince Grigoriy Potemkin. He named it in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors.

Mykolaiv is one of the main centers of shipbuilding in Ukraine and is famous for its numerous shipyards. It is known as the “city of ships”, because military and civilian vessels have been built here for many years.

The city has one of Ukraine’s largest areas of green spaces per capita which makes it green and attractive for life.

Founded in 1901, the Mykolaiv Zoo is one of the oldest and largest in Ukraine. It is a home to over 400 species of animals.

Economy and Welfare

Before and during the war, business in Mykolaiv developed in various areas which contributed to the economic development of the city. Key industries include shipbuilding, agriculture, manufacturing and trade.

The Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant (BSSP) is one of the largest and oldest in Ukraine. It manufactures ships for the domestic and international markets. The shipbuilding plant “Ocean” specializes in the construction of cargo and passenger ships, which is very important for the maritime industry of the city. These plants manufacture both small vessels and large ships for various needs.

Mykolaiv is an important center of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine. There are enterprises engaged in the cultivation of grain crops and oil plants, as well as the production of meat and dairy products. For example, NIBULON is engaged in growing and exporting grain.

The PepsiCo and Lactalis plants are engaged in the production and trade in Mykolaiv.

The PepsiCo plant specializes in the production of non-alcoholic drinks and juices such as Pepsi and Sandora.

Lactalis plant focuses on the production of dairy products such as cheese and yogurts. 

Both enterprises have considerable impact on the local economy, offering jobs and delivering products for domestic and international markets.

The field of education is actively developing in the Mykolaiv community. There are 75 kindergartens, 68 schools, 4 special educational institutions for children with special needs, 6 vocational and technical lyceums and 4 higher education institutions.​

Community and War

From the first days of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Mykolaiv was under attack by Russian troops. The city, which was famous for its shipbuilding, baking industry and picturesque landscapes before the war, became an outpost of Ukrainian defense in the south.

Mykolaiv suffered significant destruction during constant insidious shelling and bombing by russian troops: municipal equipment, residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and kindergartens were damaged. As a result of hostilities, more than 2,000 housing stock assets were damaged or destroyed. More than 45% of the city’s social infrastructure and 44% of the population’s livelihood facilities were destroyed or damaged.

The city of Mykolaiv was awarded the honorary title “Hero City of Ukraine” by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of March 24 for the heroism and resilience of the citizens who defended the city during the repulsion of the armed aggression of the russian federation.

During the war, Mykolaiv faced significant changes and challenges. As an important military center of southern Ukraine, it became one of the key targets for enemy attacks. Constant shelling and destruction of infrastructure created dangerous conditions for residents, so many people were forced to leave their homes and evacuate to safer regions. To protect the city, territorial defense units were organized, which were joined by local residents

To support the population, volunteer centers were created that provided people with food, water, medical supplies and other necessary things. In addition, Mykolaiv received international humanitarian aid, which allowed supporting the most vulnerable sections of the population.

Due to the destruction of residential buildings, many people lost their homes, and temporary shelters were organized for them. The city’s economy suffered serious losses as many businesses were forced to shut down. At the same time, some businesses adapted to the new conditions and began to produce goods for military needs.

In April 2022, russian troops destroyed the water main that supplied water to the city. As a result, Mykolaiv experienced a particularly difficult period when the city was left without water supply. This created additional difficulties for residents, but thanks to the efforts of volunteers and outside support, the city was able to overcome this crisis.

The educational process was also changed: schools and universities switched to distance learning to ensure the safety of children and students. Access to education was maintained, despite difficult conditions.

Special attention was paid to the psychological support of the population. For this purpose, services were organized that provided assistance to people affected by the war, helping them cope with stress and trauma.

On March 7, 2023, Ukraine and Denmark signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the partnership between Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Region and the Kingdom of Denmark. This marked the beginning of a new stage of cooperation aimed at supporting the city and region that suffered from the russian aggression.

During the full-scale invasion, Mykolaiv signed partnership agreements with European cities. The following became Mykolaiv’s twin cities:

• Chelm (Poland)
• Bedburg, Hanover, Sindelfingen (Germany)
• Burgas (Bulgaria)
• St. Helier (British Isles)
• Kristiansand (Norway)
• Aalborg (Denmark)
• Durres (Albania)
• Glasgow (Scotland)
• Kotka (Finland)

Also, Mykolaiv became the first city in Ukraine to create a website for monitoring the international aid that the community has been receiving since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Despite all the difficulties, the residents of Mykolaiv demonstrate endurance and cohesion. They continue to support each other and do everything they can to keep the city alive during the war.​

People of the Community

The mayor of Mykolaiv is Oleksandr Sienkevych. He was elected to the position in 2015 and re-elected in 2020. Mr. Sienkevych is known for his commitment to reforms and modernization of the city. Under his leadership, numerous projects aimed at improving the infrastructure, ensuring cleanliness and enhancing the living conditions of the townspeople were implemented.​

Strategy Development

After 10 months of fruitful work, specialists of the Mykolaiv City Council, public representatives, scientists, experts from Ukraine and abroad (UNDP, UN Economic Commission for Europe, One Works, COWI) successfully completed the preparation of the City Development Strategy until 2027. This document will become a key tool for determining the direction of Mykolaiv’s development in the coming years.

The Strategy is based on the following key goals:

• A safe and sustainable community (a city where people feel safe).
• A comfortable community (a city with European standards of quality of life and comfort, opportunities for personal and business development).
• A competitive community (a transport and logistics center of competitive and environmentally friendly industry; a center of unique historical and cultural heritage).
• A community of partnership (a community that values people, builds the future and forms new partnerships).

List of Sources

• Official website of the Mykolaiv City Council: mkrada.gov.ua
• Official Facebook page of Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych: facebook.com/SenkevichNikolaev
• Official Facebook page of the Mykolaiv Development Agency: facebook.com/MykolaivDevelopmentAgency