«Putting up the Christmas tree is not my job»: Liubarov on why he’s not handling New Year festivities again

This year, Mykolaiv was again left without the main Christmas tree and festive events in the city centre.

The editorial board of NikVesti asked Yurii Liubarov, head of the culture department of the Mykolaiv City Council, whether the main city Christmas tree would be set up on Soborna Square this year.

— The answer was no. No. It won't.

— You mean the city will not put it up again?

— The city will not put up a Christmas tree on Soborna Square again.

— And why?

— Why?

— Yes.

— Is this a serious question? Do you want me to decipher why?

— Seriously, why not? Many cities set up Christmas trees. Only five regional centres do not.

— Ask me, please, «Will they?», I will say «No». Period.

The head of culture of Mykolaiv considers it inappropriate to hold large mass events in the city centre.

— Why won't the Christmas tree be set up on Soborna Square? Because today, during the war, it is inappropriate to hold large mass events with the installation of fairgrounds and other entertainment events in the city centre.

— I understand that there is a war. But the (culture) department is working, you continue to get paid. The Department of Culture has refused.

— From what?

— From the salary.

— Listen, girl. Are you recording our conversation?

— Yes, I am.

— If you have a question of this kind, please make an official information request. This is the first time I've heard the media jump from one question to another. I don't refuse to pay my salary because I work. And my job is not to set up a Christmas tree in the city of Mykolaiv. 365 days a year. Please send me an information request and I will answer you.

At the same time, despite the position of the head of the city's culture department, Mykolaiv regularly hosts various mass cultural events organised by public figures and other organisations.

In particular, in the summer, concerts were regularly held in the public space *8 Prychal, organised by musician and public figure Volodymyr Aleksieiev.

And in August, a concert dedicated to the Youth Day was held there, organised by the Mykolaiv All-Ukrainian Union of Youth Organisations.

There are also regular events at the House of Fleet Officers (DOF), which is also run by Aleksieiev. The concert hall «Yunist» hosts music concerts, including a solo performance by CHEEV last weekend, which was attended by a full house.

Also in September, a three-day Street music fest Mykolaiv festival took place in Victory Park, organised by city council member Fedir Panchenko and musician Volodymyr Aleksieiev. The event was attended by hundreds of citizens.

Theatres and cinemas are open, and the editorial office of NikVesti prepares a weekly poster of events taking place in the city.

It is worth noting that according to the 2024 declaration filed by Yurii Liubarov on 26 March 2025, his main source of income is his salary. According to the document, the annual salary of the official in the Department of Culture and Protection of Cultural Heritage was 651,71 hryvnias, which is about 54.3 thousand hryvnias per month.

It is worth reminding that until 2022, Yurii Liubarov held separate briefings on the preparation of Mykolaiv for the New Year holidays. For example, in December 2018, he spoke in detail about the date and format of the opening of the main Christmas tree, which was accompanied by a large festive concert and musical. In addition, Liubarov also presented a programme of children's events in Chestnut Square, St Nicholas Day and other celebrations. In general, he outlined all the events step by step — from switching on the illumination on the main Christmas tree on 19 December to the end of the festive period on 15 January.

• 2017: On the air of the municipal TV channel «MART», Yurii Liubarov spoke in detail about the new illumination and the Christmas tree on Soborna Square.
• 2018: Yurii Liubarov held a briefing where he spoke about the plan of events for the New Year's celebration in Mykolaiv.
• 2019: During the opening of the main Christmas tree, the head of the Department of Culture spoke to journalists about the celebrations on the renovated Soborna Square.
• 2020: Mykolaiv's Department of Culture spoke about the celebrations, decorations and ice rink on Soborna Square that were installed at the time. The head of the Department of Culture, Yurii Liubarov, also spoke about the timing of the celebration in a commentary to NikVesti.
• 2021: On the eve of 19 December, Yurii Liubarov spoke about plans to make the celebration «bright».

It should be noted that this year, most regional centres decided to set up Christmas trees. According to an analysis by «Slovo i Dilo», only five cities are left without a Christmas tree: Mykolaiv, Kherson, Ternopil, Vinnytsia and Chernihiv.

As a reminder, the last time Mykolaiv's main Christmas tree was set up was in 2021 on Soborna Square. It was set up there in 2016.