The director of Mykolaivpastrans explained his resignation by saying that he had been «ignored» for four months. Sienkevych responded that the work was unsatisfactory

Oleksandr Sienkevych introduces Dmytro Teslenko to the Pastrans team, August 2024. Photo: Mykolaivpastrans

Dmytro Teslenko, director of the municipal enterprise Mykolaivpastrans, stated that his dismissal was influenced by a prolonged lack of communication with Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych.

He spoke about this in an interview with NikVesti.

The official's contract was due to expire on 30 January, and he did not know whether he would continue to work for the municipal enterprise, as he had had no communication with Oleksandr Sienkevych over the past four months.

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Dismissal «by mutual agreement» is just a formality, says Dmytro Teslenko.

«My dismissal is legally described as by mutual agreement, but it was preceded by certain events in the life of the enterprise. In particular, there was a complete lack of communication with the mayor. There has been no communication for the last four months. There were no complaints against me. There were no problems within the company. No one said anything to me, neither the mayor nor the supervising deputy,» said Dmytro Teslenko.

He added that over the course of a year and a half, the company's team had implemented a number of changes aimed at improving working conditions, and that, according to him, there were no complaints against him or the municipal enterprise.

«This came as a surprise. We had many joint plans with the team because we have achieved a lot in these 18 months thanks to the team. We have improved the working environment for our drivers, mechanics, fitters and dispatchers. And, I think we have done a lot to make ourselves known and recognised as a municipal enterprise,» he added.

When asked whether the situation with the delivery of 10 Turkish buses, which the company has still not received, could have influenced his dismissal, the official replied that for him, this would remain at the level of rumours.

«For me, the question of my dismissal will remain unanswered. Surely the person who made this decision had some grounds for it, but no one has said anything. Maybe this is the style of city management, when things are done silently, without explanation. Everything was at the level of rumours. But this stage of my life is over,» he said.

It should be noted that we are talking about buses, the delivery of which was recorded by NikVesti correspondents on 11 September 2025. The vehicles stood at the Romanian border for more than two months before they could be imported. Dmytro Teslenko explained that the transport was purchased under a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development loan programme.

In total, Mykolaiv is to receive 26 buses. The loan amount is 4.7 million euros.

The fact that the city has not yet received the buses was announced personally by the mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, during his press conference in January 2026. It turned out that the buses arrived incomplete.

«There are some technical issues regarding the complete configuration of these buses. In the near future, when they are fully equipped and officially transferred to us, we will pay all the necessary initial payments. They will also be able to run on local routes and serve areas that do not yet have public transport,» said the mayor.

NikVesti asked Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych to comment on the official's statement, to which the mayor replied that Teslenko was present at the meetings and made presentations.

«Indeed, after the contract expired, the employment relationship with Dmytro Teslenko was terminated by mutual agreement. It is difficult for me to comment on statements about a lack of communication, because during this time, Dmytro was at least present at monthly staff meetings along with all the heads of public utilities. In addition, in December, he personally defended the company's budget before me in the presence of deputies, advisers and the director of the finance department. I am open to communication with anyone who wants to work on the development of the city — without any barriers,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

The mayor noted that he now expects more dedication from the new head of Mykolaivpastrans than Dmytro Teslenko probably showed.

«The decision not to renew the contract was a considered one and was based on a number of factors. I hope that the new manager will show more initiative, efficiency and communication skills. This company has great potential and cannot just 'work' — it must develop,» emphasised the mayor.

Oleksandr Sienkevych also added that the situation with the delivery of 10 buses from Turkey had nothing to do with Teslenko personally and did not influence the decision to dismiss him.

«This is related to the supplier and the completion of the order. The money will be transferred when they deliver the fully equipped buses to us,» said the mayor.

Updated at 12:50 p.m. In response to the mayor's statement, Dmytro Teslenko said that he worked not for the mayor, but for the people who used public transport services.

«I worked for the residents and guests of the city of Mykolaiv. And for me, the most important thing was, is, and always will be the evaluation of my work by the residents themselves. If the mayor is the only resident of Mykolaiv who was dissatisfied, then I think I did everything right,» he wrote to NikVesti.

It should be noted that Dmytro Teslenko was appointed director of Mykolaivpastrans in August 2024. Prior to that, he worked for the National Police of Ukraine for over 13 years.

In the first 11 months of 2025, more than 9.3 million passengers used buses in Mykolaiv. Dmytro Teslenko said that in 2025, the company managed to overcome the shortage of drivers, which allowed it to increase the number of buses on routes from 21 to 38.

In addition, in December 2024, the company managed to launch a route connecting the city centre with the Varvarivka microdistrict.