Stabilisation work at the Arkas Lyceum is scheduled to be completed in spring

Reconstruction of the Mykola Arkas Gymnasium, March 2025, photo by NikVesti

The building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv, which was destroyed by a rocket strike, has already been equipped with the most basic shelter, and stabilisation work is planned to be completed by the end of March 2026.

This was announced by Oleksii Savchuk, head of the capital construction department of the Mykolaiv City Council, during a briefing on Thursday, 22 January, according to NikVesti.

According to him, the destroyed entrance has already been dismantled, the load-bearing structures have been reinforced, and the foundation has been laid.

«The entrance hall has been completely dismantled, the structures have been reinforced, and the foundation has been laid,» said Oleksii Savchuk.

It will take another two years to complete the reconstruction of the Arkas Lyceum. Photo: UKP

At the same time, the interior of the lyceum needs complete reconstruction. In particular, work has focused on the construction of a shelter.

«Excavation is underway, which is necessary to build the simplest shelter in this facility. This work has been completed to date. A floor has been built between the basement and the first floor. Work is underway to deepen the foundation,» he explained.

Excavation for the construction of a shelter. Photo: UKP

Excavation for the construction of a shelter. Photo: UKP

The head of the department emphasised that the complete restoration of the building should not be expected in 2026.

«We have two phases: the stabilisation phase and the complete restoration phase. Stabilisation work includes the restoration of all structures on the facade and roof to ensure the strength and reliability of the building. This is expected to be completed at the end of the first quarter (of 2026),» said Oleksiy Savchuk.

According to him, the necessary building materials for erecting walls are already available at the site. The frosts in January may have slightly affected the schedule, but no significant delays are expected.

«The building materials for the walls are already on site. January was cold, so there may be a delay, but it will not be significant. The work is progressing quickly. The entire restoration can only be completed at the end of 2027,» he concluded.

Earlier it was reported that the reconstruction of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum building, which was destroyed by a rocket strike, is planned to be completed at the end of 2027.

The Arkas Lyceum during the war

The historic building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum was destroyed on 1 November 2022 during the bombing of Mykolaiv by Russian troops. As a result of the shelling, part of the wall of the lyceum collapsed, exposing the interior of the school classrooms, and the roof above the facade was damaged.

Ukrainian architects presented options for the restoration and reconstruction of the lyceum to the Danish ambassador, Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. In turn, he assured that the city authorities would choose the reconstruction option themselves. After that, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych announced that the lyceum would be restored while preserving its authentic appearance.

Work on the reconstruction of the lyceum began in the winter of 2025. Its reconstruction is being financed by the Danish government, and the work is being supervised by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). In general, the historic building of the educational institution will be rebuilt in three stages:

• Emergency work: dismantling of the building's emergency structures.
• Stabilisation work: major repairs to the roof and walls; restoration of the façade, but without restoring the ornaments and other decorative elements; preparation for the installation of a shelter.
• Resumption of the educational process: repair of the lyceum building premises and installation of a shelter. The project documentation for the interior work is still being developed.

Under the supervision of UNOPS engineers, the contractor has already dismantled most of the damaged structures. Currently, the foundation is being reinforced, which will allow for the construction of an underground shelter. Significant work has also been done to restore the roof.

See also the article NikVesti «Don't lose the building. Reconstruction of the Arkas Gymnasium has begun in Mykolaiv». The plan is to restore the destroyed facade of the building by October 2025.