Mykolaiv plans to restore 54 houses destroyed by war

Mykolaiv plans to restore 54 residential buildings damaged by the war with the support of international organizations. The Department of Housing and Communal Services has already announced procurement to prepare projects and oversee the reconstruction.

Ihor Nabatov, First Deputy Director of the Housing Department, and Artem Sapozhnyk, his deputy, spoke about the reconstruction of houses damaged by shelling.

The officials explained that the department is working in three main areas: house repairs, cooperation with utility companies and consideration of residents' appeals. Currently, there are 18 utility companies in the city, including the newly created Svyidim utility company, which deals with social housing.

The war has brought new challenges: cooperation with international organizations and humanitarian foundations to receive assistance in the form of equipment, materials, and services. One of the key projects is the HOP pilot program supported by the World Bank and the Ministry of Regional Development, which covers five cities: Mykolaiv, Izyum, Makariv, Bucha, and Zaporizhzhia. The goal of the project is to restore damaged buildings using modern standards, energy efficiency, and landscaping.

In Mykolaiv, 246 out of more than 1300 houses were selected according to the program criteria, then weeded out to 74, and now 54 objects remain, for which international procurement for consulting engineers and design organizations has already been announced. These specialists should develop design and estimate documentation, coordinate restoration concepts with the Department of Housing and Communal Services, conduct supervision and help with the commissioning of buildings.

The deputy department head emphasized that procurement under World Bank rules differs from Ukrainian legislation and focuses on technical criteria rather than price. At the same time, the department is starting work on urban projects to prevent the destruction of houses, even if they later end up in the HOP. An example is the house at 32 Admiralska Street, for which design work began last year to ensure safe conditions for residents.

Representatives of the department also spoke about other international projects, including Felicity 2, as well as cooperation with the city of Hanover on the development of social housing. They emphasized that the main task is to return people to live in their rebuilt homes as soon as possible.

In September, UNDP, together with the Danish government, launched a three-year project called Strategic Partnership for Mykolaiv. Over $36 million has been allocated for its implementation, which will be used to restore and develop the city.

Анна Бальчінос