A new head of the Danish Embassy’s Office has been appointed in Mykolaiv

The new head of the Danish Embassy Office in Mykolaiv is Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt. Photo: Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration

From 6 October, Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt has taken charge of the Office of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Mykolaiv. He succeeds Jakob Torild Hansen, who had headed the office for two years.

The personnel changes were announced by Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych and the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.

On Monday, the new head of the Danish office was introduced during a meeting of the Steering Committee of the «Mykolaiv–Denmark» partnership. Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt also met with Heorhii Reshetilov, acting head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, and Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych.

During the meeting at the Regional Military Administration, the parties discussed further cooperation with Denmark, the implementation of projects to rebuild the Mykolaiv region and support for the region’s residents. They also discussed the current needs of local communities and priorities for future work.

«I would like to thank Denmark for its consistent support for the Mykolaiv region. It is extremely important for us to maintain constant communication between our teams so that we can effectively implement joint projects and respond promptly to the needs of local communities,» said Heorhii Reshetilov.

The new head of the Danish Embassy’s Office in Mykolaiv, Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt. Photo: Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration

For his part, Oleksandr Sienkevych noted that the presence of a separate Danish Embassy Office directly in Mykolaiv allows the city to maintain constant communication with the Danish side and to work more swiftly on joint projects.

«It is very valuable that Denmark has its Office here in Mykolaiv. This gives us the opportunity to be in constant direct contact and to move our joint endeavours forward quickly. Our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark has become truly special over the years. We have achieved a great deal together and can see the tangible results of this cooperation for the city and its residents,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

The mayor also thanked the Office’s former head, Jakob Torild Hansen, who worked in Mykolaiv for two years.

«Thank you to Jakob for his work, his interest in Mykolaiv and his contribution to the development of our relations,» added the mayor.

Oleksandr Sienkevych and Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt. Photo: Oleksandr Sienkevych

Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt during a meeting with the Mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: Oleksandr Sienkevych

Viktor Jørgen Blikfelt during a meeting with the Mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: Oleksandr Sienkevych

Cooperation between Denmark and the Mykolaiv region

As a reminder, Denmark took on the patronage of the reconstruction of Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv region following the start of the full-scale invasion. Initially, the aid focused primarily on the region’s immediate needs — restoring water, heating and electricity supplies, demining, repairing damaged infrastructure and providing equipment.

As previously reported by NikVesti, Jakob Torild Hansen, then Head of the Danish Embassy’s Office in Mykolaiv, stated that during the first three years of the partnership, Denmark had allocated around 213 million euros to assist Mykolaiv and the region. The funds were channelled towards water supply, electricity networks, heating, demining, shelters and the restoration of hospitals.

Advertising

The next phase was the Transitional Support Programme for Ukraine for 2025–2028. Its total budget is 375 million euros, around 60 per cent of which is earmarked for the Mykolaiv region — approximately 224 million euros. Previously, the Danish side had also announced its intention to allocate around 75 million euros to the Mykolaiv region each year.

Water

Water supply remains one of the key areas of the partnership. Denmark is prepared to allocate 45 million euros towards new water treatment facilities in Mykolaiv. The project is planned to be implemented in conjunction with funding from the European Investment Bank.

Separately, with Danish support, the water supply networks in the Korabelny district are being modernised. Jakob Hansen had previously stated that water losses on these networks exceeded 50 per cent. The project involves replacing and refurbishing pipes, installing meters and equipment to detect leaks. By July 2026, 87 per cent of the planned work had been completed at one of the sites.

Also, with Danish support, plans have been made to reconstruct the dilapidated culvert across the Inhul River in the Soliany neighbourhood.

Housing and reconstruction

Another major area of Danish aid is housing reconstruction. With Danish support, houses and surrounding areas in Mykolaiv damaged by Russian shelling are being restored.

In particular, Denmark has provided over 150 million hryvnias for the restoration of high-rise blocks in the Korabelnyi district. Danish funding has also been used to restore high-rise blocks and courtyards in the Lisky neighbourhood.

The Danish side plans to continue the comprehensive restoration of residential neighbourhoods in Mykolaiv. One of the objectives of this restoration is to create the conditions for people to return to the city.

Denmark’s approach to reconstruction is based on the «Build Back Better» principle — not simply repairing what has been destroyed, but making buildings more energy-efficient, accessible and comfortable. NikVesti has reported separately on how this principle is being applied during the reconstruction of Mykolaiv.

With Denmark’s support, plans for new housing are also being drawn up in Mykolaiv. Earlier, the mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, announced plans to build a high-rise block, the flats in which are to remain the property of the city.

Education, transport, energy and social projects

Denmark is also funding the restoration of educational infrastructure in Mykolaiv and the region. This involves repairing damaged educational establishments and creating safe conditions for children to return to face-to-face learning. In particular, in 2026, a shelter restored with Danish funding was opened at one of Mykolaiv’s schools. One of the major educational projects remains the restoration of the historic building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv, which suffered significant damage as a result of Russian shelling.

Separately, Denmark has contributed to the development of public transport. The country provided around 3.9 million hryvnias in grant funding for the purchase of nine trolleybuses with autonomous driving capability. In 2025, the Danish side considered the possibility of funding the purchase of a further nine trolleybuses.

Danish aid also covers energy infrastructure. In the early years of the full-scale war, Denmark supplied Mykolaiv with the equipment needed to get through the heating seasons. In 2026, the country allocated a further 4.7 million hryvnias towards the restoration of damaged energy infrastructure in frontline regions, particularly in the Mykolaiv region. With Denmark’s support, projects are also being implemented in Mykolaiv to modernise the district heating system, including the installation of individual heating units.

Over time, the partnership has expanded to include social and economic projects. In 2026, representatives from Mykolaiv and Denmark discussed the employment of veterans and cooperation with local employers.

The Danish side also advocates for the more active involvement of local businesses in the region’s recovery. In September 2026, with Danish support, the TILIGUL CONNECT 2026 forum was held on the Tylihul Estuary to support craft and veteran-run businesses. The event focused, in particular, on grant programmes, loans and other funding opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Another area of cooperation concerns the future of the Mykolaiv Shipyard site. The Danish side has proposed creating a public space there that could combine community and memorial functions. Later, Vitalii Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, reported that the necessary documentation is being prepared to implement this plan.

Overall, over the past few years, cooperation between the Mykolaiv region and Denmark has expanded from emergency aid to long-term projects in the fields of water supply, housing, education, energy, public transport, support for veterans, business and urban development.