Kim: Mykolaiv region has strengthened its position within the Government

Vitalii Kim held a wrap-up press conference in Mykolaiv and pledged the Cabinet’s support for the region; photo: NikVesti

The newly appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Vitalii Kim, stated that following his move from the post of head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, he would continue to support the region and work on the «South 2.0» economic strategy.

He made these remarks during a wrap-up press conference in Mykolaiv today, 18 July, according to a correspondent for NikVesti.

«This term of office (as head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, — note) has come to an end for me, but I am not abandoning the Mykolaiv region. I will speak the language of money, because the programmes that are to be implemented and the support for the Mykolaiv region will remain. I am moving on to do more for our country. Mykolaiv region has strengthened its position within the Government,» said Vitalii Kim.

As is well known, another representative of the Mykolaiv region — Ivan Vyhivskyi, who has taken the helm of the Ministry of Internal Affairs — has joined him in the new Cabinet of Ministers.

The first meeting of the newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers took place on 16 July; in the photo, Mykolaiv natives Vitalii Kim and Ivan Vyhivskyi are sitting side by side, photo courtesy of the government’s press service

Vitalii Kim also assured that he would continue to develop the «South 2.0» concept, aimed at the economic recovery of Ukraine’s southern regions. According to him, this initiative was not solely linked to his role as head of the Regional Military Administration, but had become his personal project.

«I will continue with «South 2.0» and economic recovery. I believe I will gain new experience and an understanding of processes at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers and the state, which will help me to formulate Ukraine’s economic strategy. These are not official projects; they are my personal passion, to which I have devoted my own time. I will not abandon this project,» he emphasised.

At the same time, operational matters falling within the remit of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration will be handed over to the administration’s new leadership. However, according to Vitalii Kim, he has already discussed a long-term development strategy for southern Ukraine with the Prime Minister and the government.

«It will actually be a little easier for me to discuss the strategic vision for the South from the position of minister,» he said.

Vitalii Kim had previously presented the «South 2.0» concept as a development programme for the Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. In his blog on Ekonomichna Pravda, he explained that it envisages transforming the southern regions into a logistics, agricultural, energy and technology hub. Key areas include the development of renewable energy, ports and river logistics, agri-processing, industry and technology, as well as demining and environmental restoration.

The day before, Vitalii Kim also promised to champion the interests of the Mykolaiv region during the allocation of state budget funds. He stated that the implementation of projects already underway would continue, and that support for the region should be increased.

It should be recalled that the Verkhovna Rada appointed Vitalii Kim as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Prior to this, he had headed the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration since November 2020. Heorhii Reshetilov has been appointed acting head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.