«Always want more.» What do representatives of Mykolaiv think about reconstruction during the war?

Ternivka ring in Mykolaiv, March 2024, photo: NikVesti

Already during the Great War, the recovery process began in Mykolaiv: repair of shelters, residential buildings, schools and hospitals, renewal of communal equipment. In this city, international partners help, and Denmark decided to take over the process.

However, there is an opinion that «war cancels reconstruction.» Is this really the case and how does Mykolaiv treat this process? To find out, we talked to six different representatives of Mykolaiv: from opinion leaders to those who are directly engaged in restoration.

Read about the attitude, vision and expectations of Mykolaiv residents in the material NikVesti.

Who shared their vision?

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In order to investigate the perception of the restoration process in Mykolaiv, we decided to talk to representatives of three different groups:

Opinion leaders:

• Kateryna Stokolias — member of the executive committee of the Mykolaiv City Council;
• Volodymyr Aleksieiev is a musician, the head of the «Musical Art of Variety» department of the Mykolaiv College of Musical Art.

Authorities involved in the recovery process:

• Serhii Koreniev — deputy mayor of Mykolaiv, head of the working group on city recovery;
• Viktor Sikalenko is the head of the Mykolayiv Reconstruction and Development Office.

Residents of Mykolaiv who directly faced the recovery process:

• Viktor Zahorui is a builder and resident of a dilapidated building at 32 Admiralska Street;
• Tetiana Polishchuk is the deputy director of Mykolaiv Lyceum №60, which was destroyed by shelling. The educational institution is currently in the process of reconstruction.

Viktor Zagorui shows the destroyed apartment at 32 Admiralskiy, photo: «NikVesti»

Reconstruction is not only the rebuilding of destroyed buildings

In general, the interlocutors of the publication have an almost identical perception of the recovery process. They are convinced that restoration is not only the reconstruction of destroyed objects and believe that this process also includes:

• start-up of small and medium-sized businesses thanks to the creation of appropriate conditions and grant support;
• restoration of light after Russian shelling at the expense of networks and equipment provided by partners;
• provision of water supply and heat supply;
• affordable medicine;
• support of temporarily displaced persons;
• ensuring the educational process;
• resumption of cultural events.

According to the interviewees, priority in recovery should be given mainly to business. It was this field of activity that was most often mentioned by the respondents in their answers, although they mostly put it in the third place.

«In this regard, we have many opportunities. There are grants and training opportunities to encourage people to start businesses. This helps the city to live,» says Kateryna Stokolias.

Restaurant «Entrekot» resumed its work in another location in Mykolaiv after the shelling, photo NikVesti

«I believe that it should be the restoration of factories, factories - our destroyed industry, which gives people jobs and replenishes the city's budget. It is necessary to start from this,» says Tetiana Polishchuk.

After business, restoration of fresh water supplies, medical and educational industries, and shelter construction are the highest priorities in recovery. These areas received two mentions each in the answers of the citizens.

«The priority, I believe, should be the housing and communal sphere, education and health care. This is something that should be restored as soon as possible in order for people to remain here, to have a place to live and work. And then, of course, is the restoration of business. But I give priority to these three, which I named,» says Kateryna Stokolias.

Shelter in one of Mykolaiv educational institutions, photo NikVesti

«Another issue is water supply. This issue has been around for more than a year and it needs to be resolved. It is good that international partners and the government of Ukraine are now dealing with this issue, but still people want this issue to be resolved much faster than it is planned,» says Viktor Sikalenko.

«First of all, everything related to infrastructure and shelters. There are a lot of questions about shelters, because even where they are, not everyone can get to them,» says Volodymyr Aleksieiev.

Among other things, the interviewees mentioned restoration of light, heat and reconstruction of destroyed residential buildings. It is interesting that these areas were mentioned in the answers of the citizens only once, but they took the first places in order of priority.

Builders began demolishing the house at 43 Pohranychna Street in Mykolaiv, photo: NikVesti

«The most critical thing now, as we felt, is the issue of providing the population with electricity and heat. During the summer blackout, we realized that without electricity, people had heart problems because the air conditioners didn't work, the elevators didn't work, nothing worked. Accordingly, it affects every person,» Viktor Sikalenko believes.

Water and lack of resources: the main problems of recovery in Mykolaiv

The interlocutors of the publication mostly name residents' main problem as:

• lack of drinking water supply;

«This is the main problem. On the one hand, it is already a habit to go and collect water at points. On the other hand, it is a big problem that brings with it not only our inconveniences, but also the replacement of a large number of pipes in the city that were corroded by salt water. This should be done on all highways, and then on residential areas. It's a long process. On the one hand, you want faster, and on the other hand, you understand that it cannot be done in one day,» shared Kateryna Stokolias.

There is no water supply in Ternovi Pody, photo: NikVesti

«We all feel that the water in our tap at home is not potable. But it is there, because despite the destruction of the water supply, we avoided a sanitary collapse. We made a unique case: we built 250 drinking water points in the city today. There is no such amount of reverse osmosis in any city, in any country,» says Serhii Koreniev.

• lack of a sufficient number of shelters and access to them;

«I believe that now shelter is still in the first place. Because we see civilians being terrorized. They should be not only in schools and kindergartens, but also for other people,» says Tetiana Polishchuk.

• lack of resources: financial and human.

«If there was more funding, we would move faster. If there were more qualified builders and project organizations, we would move faster,» says Serhii Korenшev.

Mykolaiv, June 2024, photo: NikVesti

«We lack organizations that would take responsibility and participate in city council tenders, our international partners to become a company that will rebuild. Unfortunately, these organizations are few and far between. We even have to involve organizations that are not from the city of Mykolaiv. And this is a big minus, because we give funds to companies that pay taxes in other cities,» emphasizes Viktor Sikalenko.

What are the positive examples of recovery in Mykolaiv?

Among the positive examples of recovery, respondents name:

• reconstruction of the trauma department of the Emergency Hospital;

«First of all, I would call the restoration of health care — our traumatology department of the Emergency Hospital. It was quickly restored,» said Kateryna Stokolias.

The trauma center of the Emergency Hospital in Mykolaiv after a rocket attack, August 2022, photo NikVesti

The trauma center of the Emergency Hospital in Mykolaiv after reconstruction, August 2023, photo NikVesti

• repair of the Centers for the provision of administrative services in the Korabelnyi District and the Zavodskyi District, which is still in the process of work;
• updating of utility equipment;

«Thanks to financing from the World Bank, about 30 units of new equipment were purchased for about a year, which now work on the streets of the city and deal with garbage removal,» says Serhii Korenev.

New equipment of the utility company Mykolaivcommuntrans, June 2024, photo NikVesti

• partial restoration of schools and kindergartens;
• construction of cogeneration plants;

«If we talk about our Mykolaivteploenergo, then we are transforming it from a heat-generating enterprise into an enterprise that generates, including electricity. And to date, we have already built 5.5 MW of cogeneration plants. We have huge plans, not just plans, but obligations confirmed by contracts. We will still need about 12 MW of capacity and, well, actually, it will all be built,» said Serhii Koreniev.

• starting technical water.

«Somehow, but the water pipeline was made, there is technical water. Although they have not completely restored it, they are working on it,» says Tetiana Polishchuk.

Water purification station in the Korabelnyi district of Mykolaiv, photo: NikVesti

It was difficult for respondents to decide on negative examples of recovery. Almost every interlocutor answered «I can't say» or «I don't even know.» However, the interviewees named one object — Mykola Arkas Lyceum, whose historical building was destroyed by a Russian rocket in the center of Mykolaiv.

«We all see that some projects are delayed. For example, the restoration of the Mykola Arkas gymnasium. Sad, but none the less. But our partner UNOPS finally has a contractor who is currently in the process of obtaining permit documentation,» said Serhii Koreniev.

The destroyed building of the Lyceum named after Mykola Arkas in Mykolaiv, September 2024, photo: NikVesti

Repair of shelters and reconstruction of destroyed residential buildings fell into the controversial category. It was difficult for the respondents to decide to which category these two areas should be classified, because they believe that the repair of shelters and the restoration of houses are still ongoing, but these problems still remain significant.

«Here is a real example. Near the 61st plant, behind the Inhul hotel, there are two five-story buildings — which were visited six times. One began to be restored, along Admiralska Street, and the other seemed to have been forgotten - as if it is not there. Of course, less than half of the residents live there, but that doesn't mean anything. Winter is coming soon,» says Viktor Zahorui.

A building damaged by a rocket attack on Mykolaiv at 36 Admiralska Street, photo: NikVesti

Almost every respondent believes that the recovery process cannot be fast, given the decision-making process.

«There are processes that happen, unfortunately, not so quickly. We understand that Mykolaiv is not implementing all this on its own — there are a lot of international partners, and our main partner is the Danish government. Therefore, there are procedures, there are their procedures: decision-making, holding tenders and implementation of projects. Unfortunately, they are not very fast. We should also not forget that the recovery process started only when Kherson was liberated — at the end of 2022,» Viktor Sikalenko added.

Flags of Ukraine and Denmark in Mykolaiv, photo: NikVesti

«All these processes are not fast, but we want all these projects that we dream about, that the local and regional authorities are talking about, to start. And it's not like this year we're doing this, and next year something else. We want it to be launched and implemented at the same time, powerfully,» says Kateryna Stokolias.

«The pace is, of course, very slow, but it is more connected with the bureaucracy,» Viktor Zahorui added.

Donors help enough, but we always want more

In general, each of the interviewees positively evaluates the help of international partners and considers it essential. However, almost every one of them notes that they «always want more» or «they help, but it's still not enough.»

«Support is good. It is a sin for us to complain, we are 100% not deprived of attention. Another issue is redistribution of resources. When certain decisions are made, there is a bias in one direction or another: something gets more attention, and something less. When we talked with donors, they said that first of all, the government gives directions on where to prioritize investing and helping, that's why it's happening. In my subjective opinion, perhaps I would have paid a little more attention to such matters as DOF (House of Fleet Officers, — note). But it is definitely not more important than large infrastructural utility projects,» says Volodymyr Aleksieiev.

Oleksandr Sienkevych in Berlin signed an agreement with the EBRD for 25 million euros of water supply for Mykolaiv, June 11, 2024, photo: NikVesti

Almost every interlocutor believes that the pace of recovery of Mykolaiv will accelerate after the end of the full-scale war. First of all, according to the respondents, this will be connected with the development of business in the city and the receipt of additional funds in the city budget, which will make it possible to implement the development projects of Mykolaiv.

«They will increase n-fold, because we understand that there are many partners who are ready to invest not only in the social or energy sphere, but also in business. And we understand the geographic location of Mykolaiv, its potential opportunities. We know that new partners will come to us or partners who already cooperate with us will cooperate even more. And especially not with local self-government bodies, but with local business. This will give us great advantages, because it is our economy, it is income to the budget. And accordingly, we will be able to independently implement certain development projects with the help of our own funds,» says Viktor Sikalenko.

Mykolaiv residents at a sunset jazz concert at *8 Prychal, June 2024, photo: NikVesti

«We can see that today the city is developing little by little: somewhere more, somewhere less, but the city is definitely not getting worse than it was a year ago. That is, the dynamics are 100% positive, and after the war, I am convinced that it will be even more positive, and the city will definitely develop,» Volodymyr Aleksieiev believes.

«I assure you that we will see and feel all this. As soon as the war ends, as soon as people start to return and our port infrastructure starts to work, as soon as some tax preferences and the possibility of financing medium-sized businesses appear, we will have a very serious push for development. I have no doubt about it,» believes Serhii Koreniev.

Mykolaiv, archival photo NikVesti

As we can see, on many issues, the views of representatives of various groups on the issue of recovery in Mykolaiv coincide. Mostly, this process in their exchange is wider than just one reconstruction of destroyed houses. In fact, the respondents include in this concept a solution to any problems that arose as a result of the impact of the war: business closures, power grids destroyed due to shelling, suspension of the educational process. Respondents believe that such restoration problems need to be solved today, since these issues are basic and relate to the life of Mykolaiv.

Yuliia Bochenko, NikVesti