Due to the suspension of US funding, projects worth millions of dollars are being frozen in Mykolaiv: which ones?

Mykolaiv, archive photo NikVesti

Due to the suspension of funding for USAID programmes, projects worth several million dollars are being frozen in Mykolaiv.

Deputy Mayor Serhii Korenev told NikVesti in a commentary.

As you know, on his first day in office, US President Donald Trump suspended foreign aid to other countries, including Ukraine. We are talking about funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For most Ukrainians, this is a little-known acronym, but billions of dollars have been coming through it. All agency projects have been put on hold for 90 days. During this time, they will be audited, after which the projects will either be resumed or revised.

«It was really a bit overwhelming for us. We had signed memoranda on Mykolaiv, and there is actually hope that there will be some movement on them. But, nevertheless, in addition to the memoranda, there were also plans and agreements for those projects that worked in partnership with USAID,» said Serhii Koreniev.

The total amount of projects that are being suspended in Mykolaiv reaches several million dollars, said Koreniev.

«That is, in reality, several million dollars in aid. I was a little pleased with the news that the US President's decree is still being evaluated and that some projects may be launched. We continue to hope,» he said.

Assistance from the US Federal Government Agency, photo: USAID Ukraine / Facebook

The deputy mayor cited several major projects that should be implemented in Mykolaiv with US financial support.

Fuel for generators

Mykolaiv was to receive about 2,000 tonnes of fuel for hospitals and critical infrastructure facilities in the city, said Koreniev.

«These are examples of fuel supplies for generators in healthcare facilities and critical infrastructure. This is about two thousand tonnes of fuel,» he said.

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School equipment

At the same time, city schools were to receive specialised equipment for classrooms, the deputy mayor said.

«There were plans to establish a STEM education system. These are practical materials and equipment for physics, chemistry, biology, geography and mathematics classrooms. This is expensive equipment, a huge set for each subject,» said Serhii Koreniev.

However, Denmark is currently considering the possibility of helping Mykolaiv schools with educational equipment, the deputy mayor added.

«But we are not sitting idly by and are communicating with other partners to cover these projects. The STEM education project is already being considered by Denmark. Perhaps they will provide a positive decision,» he said.

Equipment for STEM education, photo: Prometheanworld

Building materials to rebuild homes

Mykolaiv was also expecting to receive construction materials to repair the damage caused by enemy shelling, added Koreniev.

«We were supposed to receive roofing materials, materials for wet works indoors. These are materials for the full elimination of the consequences. It's quite a wide range. A large delivery was to take place,» he added.

Consequences of the shelling of Mykolaiv on 21 January 2025, photo: NikVesti

Help for business

In early 2025, Mykolaiv also signed a memorandum with the USAID «Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine Project» to provide support to local entrepreneurs affected by the war and seeking to restore, expand or improve their businesses.

«We also had planned cooperation to support small and medium-sized businesses. And you have probably seen the memorandum signed with the Mykolaiv City Council, which was announced for a fairly substantial amount,» added Serhii Koreniev.

Assistance from the US Federal Government Agency, photo: USAID Ukraine / Facebook

Which Mykolaiv communities businesses may be left without grant funds?

Among other things, government agencies and organisations in Mykolaiv region have stopped receiving funding, according to an article by «Ekonomichna Pravda».

Project «Media Programme in Ukraine». They received funds for its implementation: NGO «Mykolaiv Centre for Investigative Journalism» and PE «Mykolaivski Novyny». The programme aims to provide local media with the tools and opportunities to increase citizens' access to high-quality news and information. It is the largest media development project in the history of Ukraine.

Project «Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine». The recipients are Mykolaiv City Territorial Community and Mykolaiv City Council. It works to build trust between citizens and the government, strengthen citizen participation in community development and economic recovery of communities in the government-controlled areas of the south and east of Ukraine.

Project «Decentralisation Offering Better Results and Efficiency (DOBRE)». Recipients: Bashtanka City Council, Bereznehuvata Village Council, Voznesensk City Council, Halytsynove Village Council, Snihurivka City Military Administration, Shevchenkove Village Council, Shyroke Village Council. DOBRE works to help communities in Ukraine meet the challenges and opportunities of decentralisation by improving local governance and increasing citizen engagement in policy and decision-making.

One example of funding is the establishment of a community bakery in the Voznesensk community in December 2024. It was intended to help create new jobs and fill the local budget.

Desserts in one of Voznesensk's cafes, photo by NikVesti

Project «Improving the Performance and Accountability of Local Governments (Hoverla)». Recipients: Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Mykolaiv City Council, Nova Odesa and Pervomaisk City Councils, Domanivka, Kazankivka, Kryve Ozero, Veselynove, Voskresenske and Vradiivka village councils, Voznesensk and Pivdenoukrainsk city councils, Arbuzynka, Berezanka, Bratske, Buzke, Vilne Zaporizhzhia, Volodymyrivka, Yelanets, Kobleve, Myhiia, Mostove, Pervomaisk, Prybuzhany, Syniukhin Brid, Sofiivka, Stepove, Shyroke village councils. It is envisaged that each partner community will receive comprehensive support to strengthen the institutional capacity of local self-government, improve management practices, service delivery and local economic development. Support for the regions heavily affected by the war is focused on reconstruction and recovery.

In December 2024, the Southern Ukrainian community received four diesel generator sets under the «Hoverla» project. They have a capacity of 180 kilowatts and a total cost of 1.9 million hryvnias.

Project «Youth as a Conductor of Ukrainian National Identity». Recipients: Pervomaisk, Shevchenkove, Halytsynove village councils.

Project «Economic support for Ukraine». Only Kryve Ozero village council is a participant in Mykolaiv region.

In the «Energy Security Project of Ukraine», the recipients are the joint-stock company «Mykolaivoblenergo», the municipal enterprise «Mykolaivoblteploenergo», the private joint-stock company «Mykolaiv CHP», and the Mykolaiv Regional Clinical Hospital.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as of July 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Energy Security Project has provided «Mykolaivoblteploenergo» with a crane, an excavator, an emergency recovery vehicle, a backhoe loader, 3 modular boiler houses, 3 cogeneration units, 3 generators, 23 km of steel pipes, and more than 400 ball flange cranes.

Project «Safe, Affordable and Effective Medicines for Ukrainians (SAFE Med) — SAFE Med». Funds for its implementation were received by: Mykolaiv Regional Special Medical Supply Base, Regional Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, ME «Pharmacy Association «Pharmacy», OKP «Pharmacy».

Project «Support to TB Control Efforts in Ukraine». Recipients: KNP «Mykolaiv Regional Phthisiopulmonological Medical Centre».

Project «REACH 95: Accessibility of quality HIV services in healthcare facilities in Ukraine». The Health Department of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration is a participant in the programme.

Also, according to our data, a project worth 8 million hryvnias for NGOs «Mykolaiv Development Fund», 8 communities in Mykolaiv region, 10 communities in Odesa region on government and community interaction in recovery under the USAID project «Hoverla» has been suspended.

As a reminder, on 28 January, the US State Department revised its decision to suspend funding for USAID programmes, introducing a number of exceptions. They primarily apply to humanitarian programmes that provide «essential life-saving medicines, medical services, food, shelter, and living assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs necessary to provide such assistance».