Mykolaiv facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mykolaiv Миколаїв
City
Ukrainian transcription(s)
• National, BGN/PCGN	Mykolaiv
• ALA-LC	Mykolaïv
• Scholarly	Mykolajiv
Top to bottom and left to right: Museum of Shipbuilding and the Fleet, Mykolaiv Building Professional College [uk], Mykolayiv Regional Museum of Local History, Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer, Mykolaiv [uk], Roman Catholic church of Saint Joseph, Mykolaiv [uk], Cathedral of Our Lady of Kasperov, Mykolaiv [uk]
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  "City of Shipbuilders"
Mykolaiv Location in Mykolaiv Oblast Show map of Mykolaiv Oblast Mykolaiv Location in Ukraine Show map of Ukraine
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Mykolaiv Oblast
Raion	Mykolaiv Raion
Hromada	Mykolaiv urban hromada
Founded	1789
City rights	1789
Area
• Total	260 km2 (100 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	470,011
• Density	1,810/km2 (4,680/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	54000
Area code(s)	+380 512
Vehicle registration	BE
Website	mkrada.gov.ua/

Mykolaiv (Ukrainian: Миколаїв) is an important city in southern Ukraine. It is the main city of the Mykolaiv Oblast (a large region) and Mykolaiv Raion (a smaller district). Mykolaiv is located where the Inhul River meets the Southern Bug River, close to the Black Sea. This makes it a key place for shipbuilding and a busy port.

The city is known as the "City of Shipbuilders" because it has several shipyards and research centers for building ships. As of 2022, about 470,011 people live here. Mykolaiv has also been given the special title of Hero City of Ukraine.

Mykolaiv is a major hub for transportation. It has a sea port, river port, and is connected by highways, railways, and an airport. The city also has many parks, like Park Peremohy (Victory Park), which is a large green space.

What's in a Name?

The city's name, Mykolaiv, comes from the Ukrainian word Миколаїв. In Russian, it's Никола́ев (Nikolayev).

Mykolaiv was founded in 1789 by Prince Grigory Potemkin. He chose a good spot near the rivers for building ships. Potemkin named the city after Saint Nicholas, who is known as the patron saint of sailors. This was to celebrate a victory he had won on Saint Nicholas's Day in 1788.

To tell it apart from a smaller city called Mykolaiv in western Ukraine, this city is sometimes called "Mykolaiv on the Bug" because it's on the Southern Bug River.

Mykolaiv's Past: A Look at History

View of the City of Mykolaiv, painting by Fedor Alexeev, 1799

Archaeologists have found signs of very old settlements in the Mykolaiv area. In 2018, they even discovered a sunken Ancient Greek ship from the 5th century BC. This shows that people have lived here for a very long time.

The area was once home to different groups like the Scythians, ancient Greeks, and Zaporozhian Cossacks. But the city really started to grow in the late 1700s after the region was freed from the Ottoman Empire.

Mykolaiv has always been important for shipbuilding. For over 100 years, it was the main base for Russia's Black Sea Fleet. During the Crimean War (1853-1856), Mykolaiv was a key supply center for Russia. Because of its military importance, the city was closed to foreign visitors for many years.

By the late 1800s, Mykolaiv's port was one of the busiest in the Russian Empire for international trade. It was especially important for exporting grain.

Jewish people began settling in Mykolaiv in the late 1700s. The city became a significant Jewish center in the 19th century. Many Jewish families lived here, including the family of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a very important religious leader, who was born in Mykolaiv in 1902.

In 1918, German troops occupied the city. Later, in 1919, French and Greek troops were there during a wider conflict. In 1920, Soviet rule began.

Soviet-era apartment blocks in Mykolaiv

During World War II, German forces occupied Mykolaiv in August 1941. Sadly, many people, including over 35,000 civilians, were killed in the city and its region during this time. An underground group called the Mykolaiv Center resisted the occupation. The city was freed on March 28, 1944.

After the war, Mykolaiv became one of the biggest shipbuilding centers in the Soviet Union. Many large ships, including the aircraft carrier Kuznetsov, were built here.

An asteroid discovered in 1982 was named 8141 Nikolaev in honor of the city.

In 2013–2014, Mykolaiv saw protests during the Euromaidan movement. After these events, the city became calmer.

In July 2020, Mykolaiv became part of the Mykolaiv Raion as part of Ukraine's administrative changes.

In February and March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces attacked Mykolaiv. However, Ukrainian forces successfully defended the city. Despite the defense, the city faced shelling. By July 2022, about half of the people had left Mykolaiv.

How Mykolaiv is Governed

Mykolaiv is the main administrative center for both the Mykolaiv Oblast (a large region) and the Mykolaiv Raion (a smaller district). It also manages the Mykolaiv urban hromada, which is a local community group.

Mykolaiv's Location and Environment

Bird's-eye view of the city center at the river bend of Southern Bug

Mykolaiv is mostly flat, located in the fertile steppe region of southern Ukraine. There are no mountains to the north, which means cold winds can blow into the city during winter.

The city sits on a peninsula where the Southern Bug river meets the Inhul River, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the Black Sea. The rivers have many bends, creating long, narrow land areas. Mykolaiv itself is on a peninsula formed by a big bend in the Southern Bug River.

The city covers an area of 260 square kilometers (100 square miles). Mykolaiv is in the Eastern European Time zone.

Protecting Nature in Mykolaiv

Like many cities, Mykolaiv faces environmental challenges. These include pollution of water and air, and managing waste.

Mykolaiv Zoo

Mykolaiv has 18 protected natural areas, covering about 12 square kilometers (4.6 square miles). These include:

• The Mykolaiv Zoo
• Parks like Park Peremohy, Park People's Garden, and Young Heroes Park.
• Natural monuments like Memory Square and the Turkish Fountain.
• Forest reserves such as Balabanovka Forest Reserve.

Mykolaiv's Weather

Mykolaiv has a moderately continental climate. This means it has cold winters and warm to hot summers. The average temperature for the year is 10°C (50°F). January is the coldest month, averaging -3.1°C (26.4°F), while July is the warmest, averaging 22.3°C (72.1°F).

The city gets about 472 millimeters (18.6 inches) of rain each year. July usually has the most rain, and October has the least. Mykolaiv typically gets some snow every winter.

The air is usually quite humid, especially in December. Winds mostly come from the North.

Mykolaiv's People

Mykolaiv has seen its population grow over the years. In 2022, it was home to 470,011 people.

Languages Spoken

According to the 2001 census, most people in Mykolaiv spoke Russian as their main language (56.81%), followed by Ukrainian (42.17%).

More recently, in 2017, about 63% of people spoke Russian at home, 7% spoke Ukrainian, and 28% spoke both. A 2023 survey showed 30% spoke Ukrainian at home and 61% spoke Russian.

Special Awards for Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv has received important awards:

• In 1970, the Soviet Government gave Mykolaiv the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for its industrial achievements.
• On March 25, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored Mykolaiv with the title of Hero City of Ukraine. This was for the city's strong defense during the Battle of Mykolaiv.

City Districts

Mykolaiv is divided into four main districts:

• Tsentralnyi District: This is in the northwest and includes the historic city center.
• Zavodskyi District: Located in the west, this area has many factories and industrial businesses.
• Inhulskyi District: In the east, this district is home to the Mykolaiv Zoo and the city's bus and railway stations.
• Korabelnyi District: Found in the south of the city.

Mykolaiv's Official Symbols

Mykolaiv has its own official symbols:

• Coat of Arms: The city adopted its current coat of arms on September 26, 1997. It's based on an older design from 1883.
• Flag: The current flag was adopted on July 2, 1999.
• Anthem: Mykolaiv's city anthem was adopted on September 11, 2004.

Mykolaiv's Economy

Mykolaiv Shipyard

Mykolaiv is a major center for shipbuilding in Ukraine. It has been important for building ships since the time of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The city also has a busy river port. There are three large shipyards here, one of which can build very big navy ships.

Other important industries in Mykolaiv include:

• Mechanical engineering: Designing and building machines.
• Power engineering: Related to producing and distributing energy.
• Metallurgy: Working with metals.
• Food industry: Making food products.

For many years, Mykolaiv was a closed city to foreign visitors. This was because of many secret Soviet Navy projects and military sites located there. Most of the Soviet Navy's surface ships, including its only aircraft carrier, were built in Mykolaiv.

In 2011, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych visited Mykolaiv. He said Ukraine wanted to restart and grow its shipbuilding industry in the region.

One of the city's largest industrial businesses is the Mykolaiv Aluminia Factory. It makes aluminium oxide, which is used to produce aluminum.

Besides heavy industry, Mykolaiv has a strong food processing sector. This includes a juice company called Sandora (part of PepsiCo), a dairy company, and a brewery. Nibulon, one of Ukraine's biggest agriculture companies, is also based in Mykolaiv. They specialize in growing and exporting grains and have their own ships and shipyard.

The Mykolaiv Armored Factory repairs military vehicles for Ukraine. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, engineers at the plant even designed an armored ambulance.

Military Presence in Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv is a very important strategic city in southern Ukraine. It has a strong Ukrainian military presence. This includes shipyards that build navy ships, a Ukrainian Navy base, an aircraft repair factory, and an army base nearby. The 79th Airmobile Brigade is based in the city.

Getting Around Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv is a key transportation hub in Ukraine. It has a major commercial sea and river port, and is connected by important highways and railways.

Air Travel

Mykolaiv Airport (NLV) is one of the largest airports in southern Ukraine. It's mostly used for cargo flights, with limited passenger service. Most people flying to Mykolaiv go to Odesa International Airport first, then travel by bus, taxi, or train for about 2 hours. Odesa is 132 kilometers (82 miles) from Mykolaiv.

Kulbakyno airport is a military air base near the city center. It supports different types of military aircraft.

Bus Travel

You can take an overnight bus from Kyiv's main bus station to Mykolaiv. The trip takes about 8.5 hours. The bus station in Mykolaiv is located at Prospekt Bohoyavlenskyi 21.

Roads and Highways

Road on Varvarivskyi bridge

The main north-south highway through Mykolaiv is H (or M)-14. The main east-west highway is E-58 M-14, connecting to Odesa in the west and Kherson and Mariupol in the east.

Major cities connected to Mykolaiv by road include:

• Kherson (65 km or 40 miles)
• Odesa (120 km or 75 miles)
• Kyiv (500 km or 310 miles)
• Kharkiv (520 km or 323 miles)
• Lviv (350 km or 217 miles)

Bridges in Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv has two main bridges because it's located where two rivers meet.

Varvarivskyi Bridge

Inhul River bridge in Mykolaiv

Old pedestrian bridge over Inhul River

• Varvarivskyi Bridge: This bridge crosses the Southern Bug River. It's a swing bridge with Europe's largest span (134 meters or 440 feet). It connects the north side of Mykolaiv to its Tsentralnyi District.
• Inhul Bridge: This bridge crosses the Inhul River. It connects the main part of Mykolaiv to the peninsula north of the Inhul River.

Train Travel

Train travel is a popular way to go long distances in Ukraine. There are nightly trains from Kyiv to Mykolaiv. Trains also run regularly to Odesa and Kherson.

Mykolaiv's passenger train station is called Mykolaiv – Passenger. It's located at Myru Avenue and Novozavodska Street 5.

Water Transport

Mykolaiv is a major commercial sea port, but it doesn't have regular passenger boat services. Water transport is handled by three sea ports and one river port. Large ships can reach Mykolaiv all year through the Dnieper-Bug Estuary canal. This canal is 44 kilometers (27 miles) long and 100 meters (328 feet) wide.

The main ports are:

• Mykolaiv Commercial Sea Port
• Specialized Seaport Olivia
• Dnieper-Bug Sea Commercial Port
• Mykolaiv River Port
• Sea Specialized Port Nika-Tera

Local City Transportation

Tram in Mykolaiv

Within the city, people use marshrutkas (mini-buses), regular buses, trolley buses, and trams.

Trams

Mykolaiv has 73 kilometers (45 miles) of tram lines. Trams in Mykolaiv have been powered by electricity since 1915.

Trolley Buses

The city has 59 kilometers (37 miles) of trolley bus lines. Trolley buses have been operating in Mykolaiv since 1967.

Learning and Education

Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding

Mykolaiv has several universities. The most important ones are:

• Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding (a top shipbuilding university in Ukraine).
• Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University.
• Sukhomlinsky National University of Mykolaiv.
• Mykolaiv State Agrarian University.

Sukhomlinsky National University of Mykolaiv is the oldest university in the city, founded in 1913. It has about 7,000 students and 300 teachers.

Overall, Mykolaiv has 10 higher education institutions. There are also 65 general education schools, lyceums, and gymnasiums.

A survey in 2017 showed that:

• 38% of adults had university education.
• 31% had vocational secondary education.
• 26% had general secondary education.

Faith and Religion

Lutheran Church

Roman Catholic church of Saint Joseph

Mykolaiv is an important center for different Christian churches. It is the headquarters for the Mykolaiv Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), which has 18 churches in the city. It is also the headquarters for the Mykolaiv Episcopate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

A survey in 2017 found that:

• 19% belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate.
• 16% belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
• 16% were atheist (did not believe in God).
• 44% believed in God but did not belong to any specific religion.

Arts and Entertainment

Mykolaiv has a lively cultural scene with several theaters:

• The Academic Ukrainian Theater of Drama and Musical Comedy.
• The Mykolaiv State Puppet Theater.
• The Mykolaiv Academic Art Russian Drama Theater.

The Mykolaiv Oblast Philharmonic also performs in the city.

The city has several museums, including:

• Mykolayiv Regional Museum of Local History.
• The Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet.
• The V. V. Vereshchagin Mykolaiv Art Museum.

You can also catch the latest movies at three movie theaters: Rodina, Pioneer, and Multiplex.

News and Media

Mykolaiv has several local newspapers like Vecherniy Nikolayev and Nikolaevsckie Novosti. Many of these also have online versions.

Television channels in Mykolaiv show movies, news, dramas, cartoons, and sports. Some popular channels include 1+1, ICTV, and Inter.

Sports in Mykolaiv

Central City Stadium, Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv is active in sports, including Bandy and Rink-bandy.

• Football: MFC Mykolaiv is the city's professional football (soccer) club. They play at the Central City Stadium.
• Basketball: MBC Mykolaiv is the city's professional basketball team. They have won several tournaments and the Ukrainian Championship in 1992. They are part of the top professional basketball league in Ukraine.
• Rowing: Mykolaiv students have won medals in academic rowing competitions.

Global Connections

Mykolaiv is part of the International Black Sea Club and The World Council of Environmental Initiatives.

Mykolaiv is also twinned with several cities around the world, meaning they have special friendly relationships:

Famous People from Mykolaiv

Vitaliy Kim, 2020

Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 1989

Iryna Sysoyenko, 2018

Many notable people have connections to Mykolaiv:

• Taisia Afonina (1913-1994), a Soviet and Russian painter.
• Isaak Babel (1894–1940), a journalist and writer who spent part of his childhood here.
• Yurii Biriukov (born 1974), a businessman and politician.
• Georgy Brusilov (1884–1914?), an Arctic explorer.
• Art Hodes (1904–1993), a jazz pianist who moved to Chicago as a child.
• Vitaliy Kim (born 1981), a businessman and politician, the current Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast.
• Stepan Makarov (1849–1904), a commander in the Imperial Russian Navy and oceanographer.
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994), a very important leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish movement, born and lived here until 1909.
• Iryna Sysoyenko (born 1982), a politician and lawyer.
• Leon Trotsky (1879–1940), a famous revolutionary, who studied in Mykolaiv.

Sports Stars from Mykolaiv

• Valeriy Dymo (born 1985), a swimmer who competed in the Olympics.
• Olha Kharlan (born 1990), a sabre fencer, who is a European, world, and Olympic champion.
• Oleksiy Sereda (born 2005), a diver who became a European champion at just 13 years old.

Images for kids

• 

  Statue in Mykolaiv of Saint Nicholas after whom the city is named.

• 

  Shipyard in Mykolaiv circa 1900

• 

  Mykolaiv Regional State Administration after Russian rocket strike on March 29, 2022

See also

In Spanish: Nicolaiev para niños