Mykolaiv Regional State Administration warned Mykolaiv City Council about changes in the structure of the cultural sector

The Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration warns the Mykolaiv City Council that the transfer of functions to protect cultural heritage sites to the Department of Architecture and Urban Development could «create a potential conflict of interest».

This is stated in the article NikVesti «How Mykolaiv can change its approach to the protection of historical buildings and what is behind it».

It is known that the Department of Culture of the Mykolaiv City Hall is planning to take away the protection of cultural heritage sites and transfer these functions to the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Mykolaiv City Council.

The draft decision to approve the new structure is to be considered at the next session on 27 November. It has a «Department of Culture and Arts», but no protection of cultural heritage.

NikVesti asked the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration for a comment, asking whether such a structural change is in line with state policy in the field of cultural heritage protection and whether it creates risks or conflicts of interest when the body that approves construction or reconstruction must also monitor the preservation of historical buildings and cultural monuments.

«The subordination of the cultural heritage protection body to such a structural unit may create a potential conflict of interest, since structural units for architecture and urban planning are customers or coordinators of construction», said the head of the Department Olena Buberenko.

She emphasised that the main goal of the cultural heritage protection body is to ensure the preservation of historical and cultural values, keep records of monuments, organise their research, protection, promotion, and coordination with cultural institutions, museums, and scientific institutions.

According to her, this area also includes the preservation of elements of the intangible cultural heritage: traditions, customs, oral art, folk crafts, and other manifestations of the spiritual culture of the Ukrainian people.

«These functions, by their very nature, fall exclusively within the competence of the cultural sector, as they are of a scientific and cultural rather than technical and construction nature. And the structural units for architecture and urban planning implement state policy in the field of spatial planning, land development and architectural design, that is, in the area where cultural heritage protection is ancillary, not primary,» added Olena Buberenko, head of the regional department.

Archaeological monuments and mounds should be highlighted separately, in particular the so-called «Velykyi Kurhan» in the Korabelnyi district or the «Dykyi Sad» settlement. All of these are also under the jurisdiction of the Department of Urban Development.

«The protection of archaeological sites is a separate and complex area of activity in the field of cultural heritage protection, requiring specialised knowledge, a scientific approach and constant interaction with professional scientific institutions and law enforcement agencies. This area has its own specifics related to archaeological research, the identification and preservation of archaeological heritage sites, which are often under threat of destruction during economic or construction activities», the regional department of culture said in a response.

Thus, the regional department of culture concludes that the exercise of these powers should not be the responsibility of the body that regulates development.

As a reminder, in 2026, Mykolaiv plans to hold another architectural competition — this time for the building of a historic tram substation located at 8a Soborna Street.