Kim will support the modernisation of Mykolaiv’s sewage treatment plants whilst in government

Vitalii Kim said he would support the modernisation of Mykolaiv’s wastewater treatment facilities within the Government. Photo: NikVesti

The Mykolaiv region has strengthened its position within the government, and Mykolaiv can hope to secure a loan from the European Investment Bank, co-financed by the Danish government, for the modernisation of its wastewater treatment facilities.

This was announced during the final press conference by the new Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Vitalii Kim, the former head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, according to NikVesti.

A journalist asked Vitaliy Kim about a loan for the sewage treatment works backed by a government guarantee. Previously, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration had not been in favour of taking out loans. When asked whether Vitaliy Kim’s position as a government representative had now changed, he replied as follows:

«Mykolaiv region has now strengthened its position within the government. Discussions with the ministry are moving towards a grant rather than a partial loan. In other words, I very much hope that we will finalise this. The new head of the Regional State Administration will finalise this matter. And the mayor will now be able to make calculations, plans and hold out hope that this will be a grant programme rather than a loan programme,» noted Vitalii Kim.

As a reminder, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Vitalii Kim as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Prior to this, he had headed the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration since November 2020. Heorhii Reshetilov has become the acting head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.

Vitalii Kim also promised to promote the interests of the Mykolaiv region during the allocation of state budget funds. He stated that the implementation of projects already underway would continue, and that support for the region should increase.

Wastewater treatment facilities for Mykolaiv

It should be recalled that initially, plans were in place to take out a loan from the EIB for the construction of new water treatment facilities for Mykolaiv, with Denmark set to provide a further portion as a grant. The project was expected to take several years to complete and was intended to help supply the city with water meeting European standards.

However, Serhii Sukhomlyn, head of the State Agency for Reconstruction, later stated that this idea had been abandoned. It was decided to build the new water treatment facilities using state funds — those that had been saved during the construction of the city’s new water pipeline.

However, the mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, noted that whilst he supports the modernisation of the new water treatment facilities using a loan from the European Investment Bank, he believes the state should be responsible for repaying it.

Also, in March 2026, the mayor stated that the total cost of the water treatment plant modernisation project was 80 million euros, of which the Danish government was prepared to provide 45 million euros, with the remainder coming from an EIB loan.

Previously, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, Vitalii Kim, said that he did not want to rush into taking out a large loan for the construction of water treatment facilities for Mykolaiv, despite the European Investment Bank’s willingness to provide the funds, as this would affect water tariffs.

In June, Mykolaiv’s mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, said that the European Investment Bank had confirmed it would continue to work on the project to modernise the wastewater treatment facilities in Mykolaiv, with co-financing from Denmark. In addition, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has given assurances that she will «give a boost» to this project. The Ministry of Finance is due to provide guarantees to get the project off the ground.

Read also the article by NikVesti: «The state is building new treatment plants, but Mykolaiv insists on modernising them with an EIB loan: what the city stands to gain from this».