«We have restored the roof and are preparing to equip the shelters»: UNOPS said they are satisfied with the progress of the reconstruction of the Arkasa Lyceum

Work continues in Mykolaiv to restore the building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum, which was destroyed by a missile strike. So far, the contractor has partially restored the roof and is preparing to build an underground shelter.

UNOPS project manager Teresa Molero Rodriguez told NikVesti.

It should be noted that the work began in the winter of 2025. The contractor has already dismantled most of the emergency structures under the supervision of UNOPS engineers. Currently, the foundation is being strengthened, which will allow for the construction of an underground shelter. A significant amount of work has also been done to restore the roof.

«In general, we are satisfied with the progress. We have significantly approached the goal of stabilising the building so that it is no longer an emergency and is ready for full restoration,» she said.

UNOPS also reminded that Denmark has recently launched a new Transitional Support Programme for Ukraine for 2025-2028. It provides for the allocation of more than $430 million, and 60% of these funds are earmarked for Mykolaiv region.

«The programme should also cover the full restoration of the Arkas Lyceum under the management of UNOPS. Negotiations on an agreement between Denmark and UNOPS on this issue are already in the final stages, and we hope that we will soon be able to confidently talk about the full restoration of the lyceum,» UNOPS added.

As a reminder, back in April 2025, an underground passage was dug at the foundation level of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum building, which was discovered during emergency repairs. UNOPS reported that the discovery would partially adjust the project, but not significantly.

Arkas Lyceum during the war

The historic building of the First Ukrainian Mykola Arkas Gymnasium was destroyed on 1 November 2022 during the bombing of Mykolaiv by Russian troops. As a result of the shelling, a part of the wall fell down, the interior of the school classrooms opened up, and the roof over the facade was damaged.

Later, the Mykolaiv City Council's Education Department announced that the lyceum building would be restored at the expense of Denmark. Later, Ukrainian architects presented options for the restoration and renovation of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum to Danish Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. At the same time, he assured that the city authorities of Mykolaiv would choose the option for reconstruction.

Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych said that the lyceum would be restored while preserving its authentic appearance. Yurii Liubarov, head of the city council's culture department, spoke about one of the options for reconstructing the destroyed facade of the First Ukrainian Arkas Gymnasium. He suggested preserving the destroyed part of the façade in a glass «aquarium», while strengthening the floors, and restoring the rest of the façade to its authentic state in a classical way.

At the same time, in the capital expenditures of the Mykolaiv budget for 2023, the cost of the Arkas Gymnasium reconstruction project, according to the document, is 300 million hryvnias. The reconstruction period was set to last until the end of 2030.

After that, the Capital Construction Department of the City Council ordered the adjustment of the scientific and design documentation for the restoration of the Arkas Gymnasium.

Read also the article NikVesti «Not to lose the building. The restoration of the Arkas Gymnasium has begun in Mykolaiv». It is planned to restore the destroyed facade of the building by October 2025.