«Today's main events on the frontline», — Mykolaiv's head of culture on the 4-year absence of major celebrations in the city

The ceremony of raising the national flag of Ukraine in Mykolaiv on 23 August 2016. Photo: NikVesti

Yurii Liubarov, head of the Department for Culture and Protection of Cultural Heritage of Mykolaiv City Council, recalled how four years ago Mykolaiv residents celebrated Independence Day on the main square with a concert and mass events.

According to him, today the main events are unfolding at the frontline and in international negotiations.

«Independence is not a state, it is an action. It is a daily process, hard work, and careful improvement. We have room to grow, something to improve, something to think about. And this requires the personal contribution of everyone», said Yurii Liubarov.

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He is confident that next year, on the 35th anniversary of Independence, Ukrainians will be able to celebrate together and without any obstacles.

It should be noted that for all these 4 years, the City Council's Department of Culture has continued to work without celebrations in Mykolaiv, where at least 12 million hryvnias was spent on officials' salaries from 2022 to 2025.

Earlier, NikVesti wrote that the maintenance of the Mykolaiv City Council and all its departments, offices and district administrations is a cost that is borne by taxpayers every year.

In 2025, 351,662,508 hryvnias was allocated for the salaries of all city hall officials. This is only the money for salaries and bonuses of officials of various departments and offices, it does not include teachers, doctors, cultural workers or utility companies.

On 23 August, Kharkiv celebrated its 371st anniversary. The city switched on festive illumination in the form of a starry sky. Hundreds of people gathered for the celebration. The citizens sang the Ukrainian anthem and patriotic songs. Kharkiv was also decorated with new installations.

At the same time, as Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych said earlier, no large-scale celebrations are planned for Mykolaiv City Day, which falls on 13 September this year, as the war is ongoing and there is a threat of shelling.