The Mykolaiv Regional Council has established a new body to promote digitalisation and cyber security

A session of the Mykolaiv Regional Council on 16 April. Photo: NikVesti

The Mykolaiv Regional Council has established a new municipal institution, «Innovative Technologies and Networks», to administer and develop regional information systems and cyber security. It will also be responsible for implementing security programmes across the region.

The decision was supported during the session of the Mykolaiv Regional Council on Thursday, 16 April, according to NikVesti.

«The decision stems from the need to transform the digital development management system of the Mykolaiv region and transition to a model of centralised administration of regional information resources. It aims to optimise costs across the region by concentrating specialists and technical support in one place, and to ensure the region’s cyber resilience. Expert support for local communities,» explained Dmytro Havryliak, Head of the Department for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation at the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, regarding the establishment of the institution.

It was also noted earlier at a meeting of the regional commission on housing and communal services that in 2026 the new institution will be funded from the funds allocated to the «Mykolaiv Regional Guard». Subsequently, funding will be provided from the regional budget. Furthermore, some specialists from the regional guard will transfer to work at ‘Innovative Technologies and Networks».

The draft decision states that the institutions’ scope of activity is:

• Development of the region’s CCTV networks
• Development of the departmental communications network and provision of internet access (non-commercial provisioning)
• Implementation and maintenance of a centralised electronic document management system (EDMS):
• Development and support of information systems: technical support, updating and administration of web portals, registers and databases of the Mykolaiv Regional Military (State) Administration and its structural units, the Mykolaiv Regional Council and its structural units
• Cybersecurity and information protection
• Education, training and digital literacy
• Support for security measures and cooperation with TRO
• Management of digital infrastructure assets

The decision was adopted without discussion or comments from the deputies. It was supported unanimously by 41 elected representatives.

MPs were also immediately asked to approve the head of the new agency. Andrii Tsiurysov’s candidacy raised no objections.

According to Dmytro Havryliak, the new head has relevant experience in the information sector and a military background.

It should be noted that the deputies of the Mykolaiv Regional Council supported the change to the Mykolaiv region’s coat of arms. They chose the version featuring Saint Nicholas.

The deputies of the Mykolaiv Regional Council also approved the transfer of Maternity Hospital №3 into regional ownership.