Part of the faсade of the abandoned «Iskra» cinema in Mykolaiv has collapsed

Part of the facade has collapsed at the abandoned ‘Iskra’ cinema in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, the building of the former «Iskra» cinema continues to crumble. It has been several weeks since part of the external canopy running along the building’s facade collapsed.

This was reported by NikVesti.

Part of the façade has now collapsed, and the area around the damaged section has been cordoned off with warning tape. The cinema building has not been used for many years and remains closed to visitors.

Part of the facade has collapsed at the abandoned ‘Iskra’ cinema in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti

Part of the facade has collapsed at the abandoned Iskra cinema in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti

Part of the facade has collapsed at the abandoned ‘Iskra’ cinema in Mykolaiv. Photo: NikVesti

In a conversation with NikVesti, Olena Buberenko, head of the culture department at the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, noted that the collapse occurred due to the building’s long-term disuse and its dilapidated condition.

«The canopy did indeed collapse; it was destroyed by the elements. Wind, rain – it wasn’t in use, it wasn’t heated. Even when it was handed over to the Philharmonic, the roof was already leaking. The damage is purely due to natural causes. The building is in a state of disrepair and we are currently considering what to do with it next. We haven’t put this to the deputies for discussion yet, but we will,» said Olena Buberenko.

The Mykolaiv Regional Philharmonic is the entity responsible for the property, but in practice its role is limited solely to paying for the building’s security each month.

«They pay for security services every year to prevent further vandalism and to stop the place from becoming a rubbish dump. That is all we could do,» explained the official.

According to Olena Buberenko, the final decision on the cinema’s future must be taken by the Mykolaiv Regional Council as the owner of the property.

«This is municipal property, so what happens next will be decided by others. It needs to be declared unsafe. We are not the administrators of municipal property; the regional council must decide what to do next. We have a report confirming the collapse,» she said.

For her part, the head of the culture department believes that restoring the building is not feasible, as it would be easier to demolish it and build a new cultural space for the neighbourhood in its place.

«The building is in such a state that it is easier to build a new facility than to restore this one. Unfortunately, there is also damage from the blast waves. But there is definitely a need for some kind of cultural centre or space in that location. It’s a very good, great spot. «Iskra» is so badly damaged and dilapidated that it will simply be impossible to restore it; it would be easier to demolish it and build a modern cultural centre on the site,» added Olena Buberenko.

Read the article by NikVesti «What do the authorities plan to do with the abandoned Iskra cinema building in Mykolaiv?».

The «Iskra» cinema in Mykolaiv

The «Iskra» was transferred from the city’s ownership to the Mykolaiv Regional Philharmonic in 2012. The authorities at the time promised that within a few years they would restore the cinema for the needs of the Philharmonic, which had been managing the property for years, but to this day «Iskra» has not become a «home» for musicians.

In 2019, Mayor Oleksandra Sienkevych said that Mykolaiv would accept «Iskra» into municipal ownership if the region renovated the building.

Some councillors, such as Ihor Diatlov, expressed a desire to purchase the property, which at the time the chair of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, Viktoriia Moskalenko, was offering to sell for just 197,000 hryvnias. Diatlov offered 400,000 hryvnias for the property, with the aim of transferring it to municipal ownership and turning it into a leisure centre.

Tahir Sadridinov was also prepared to invest his own funds, proposing to grant the building under concession or to create a comprehensive development programme to restore «Iskra» as part of the renovation of Lisky Park. However, none of these options were implemented.

In May 2021, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, Vitalii Kim, raised the issue of the cinema and announced the possibility of transferring the property to Mykolaiv, but only after it had been renovated using state funds. Following this, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych announced plans to build a new two-storey Administrative Services Centre on the site of the former cinema. This initiative could be funded by a USAID grant.

A few months before the war began, the regional budget had earmarked 700,000 hryvnias for the security of the former «Iskra» cinema building in the Zavodskyi district of Mykolaiv.