Mykolaiv Begins Central City Stadium Renovations After Russian Shelling

Work has begun in Mykolaiv to prepare the Central City Stadium for the new season. The facility was damaged by Russian shelling in 2022, including the field and administrative building.

This was reported by Suspilne.

Vyacheslav Misarenko, director of the Central City Stadium municipal institution, said that athletes and students of the sports schools CYSS-2, SDUSSHOR, and CYSS-3 "Peremoha" train at the stadium. In addition, it is planned to organize various competitions and training sessions.

Enemy shelling in June 2022 caused significant damage: many stones remained on the field and the grass was badly damaged. The administrative building was completely damaged.

Iryna Nagornyak, deputy director of the stadium, noted that the administrative building housed a control room for surveillance cameras and medical offices that met all standards.

PHOTO: Suspilne/Nazariy Rubanyak

Work on the stadium began on March 25. According to civil engineer Oleksandr Kutsenko, they include removing old grass, mowing, fungicide treatment to combat diseases, and nitrogen fertilization. This will help prepare the field for the fall season.

Despite the preparations, some problems remain, including damage to the treadmills that were laid in the 1980s. Local residents are hopeful that the stadium will be restored in the near future.

At the moment, an expert examination is underway to determine the damage to the stadium's supporting structures, after which the damage will be calculated. Funding is allocated only for the maintenance of the facility, so the timeline for full recovery is still unknown.

PHOTO: Suspilne/Nazariy Rubanyak

Mykolaiv Sports College also suffered significant damage as a result of shelling in 2022. Teachers and staff of the college have been clearing the rubble and replacing broken windows with their own hands in an effort to restore the building. Thanks to the support of international partners, the institution was restored, and today 80% of students have returned to full-time education.

In 2024, Mykolaiv athletes won almost a thousand medals at various competitions, including 242 gold medals. This year, it is planned to further develop the sports infrastructure, support young athletes and hold more international events in the region.

Анна Бальчінос