A military administration is being established in Pivdennoukrainsk following the suspension of sessions

A military administration may be established in Pivdennoukrainsk, Mykolaiv Oblast, due to the city council’s prolonged inability to hold sessions and make decisions that are important to the community.

This is reported in a story by Suspilne Mykolaiv.

According to community representatives, the city council has not met for five months. Over the past month alone, sessions have been rescheduled four times, and as of June 10, 157 issues remain unaddressed.

Due to the lack of meetings, council members cannot make decisions regarding funding for preparations for the heating season, road repairs, urban improvements, and other city needs.

Of particular concern is the risk of losing an international grant from the Northern Environmental Finance Corporation under Ukraine’s green recovery program. A city council decision is also required to receive the funds. This concerns the modernization of wastewater facilities that have not undergone major repairs since Soviet times. In the event of an accident, this could lead to serious environmental consequences for settlements downstream of the Southern Bug River.

Representatives of the utilities sector also complain about a lack of funding. According to them, part of the city’s improvement work has not been completed, and no funds have been allocated for the necessary reclamation work at the solid waste landfill.

At the same time, some deputies believe that the reasons for postponing the sessions are contrived and unrelated to actual technical difficulties.

Legal experts explain that the procedure for establishing a military administration requires the President of Ukraine to sign a corresponding decree. Following this, the Verkhovna Rada must transfer the powers of the city council, the executive committee, and the mayor to the head of the military administration.

If a military administration is established, decisions regarding funding and community management will be made much more quickly; however, the community will have fewer mechanisms to oversee the authorities’ activities.

Currently, documents regarding the establishment of a military administration in Pivdennoukrainsk are under consideration by the President of Ukraine. The postponed session of the city council is scheduled to take place on June 11.

Андрій Колісніченко