Flats in a high-rise block in Mykolaiv are being flooded with sewage — the management company is throwing up its hands in despair

The building at 69 Kosmonavtiv Street. Photo: NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, residents of the building at 69 Kosmonavtiv Street are complaining about regular flooding of flats on the ground floor of the first block with sewage. According to them, the problem has been going on for years.

Nataliia Serhiienko, the owner of one of the flats, reported the issue in the Contact Centre group on the Mykolaiv City Council’s page, writes NikVesti.

She says that the pipes and manholes for clearing the drains are located directly beneath the floors of the flats. As a result, when blockages occur, sewage rises into the flats. Consequently, emergency services have to clear the system within the flats, leading to unsanitary conditions and damage to property.

«We are writing on behalf of the residents of the ground floor. Our flats (flats №1, №2 and others) are constantly being flooded with sewage. The reason is a gross violation of technical standards: sewer manholes and inspection chambers are located directly beneath the floors of residential areas (kitchens and corridors),» the post states.

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with sewage. Screenshot of a post in the Contact Centre group on the Mykolaiv City Council

In a comment to NikVesti, flat owner Nataliia Serhiienko explained that the photo shows the aftermath of the flooding, which occurred while they were away from home for two weeks. At the time, neighbours rang them to complain about a strong stench.

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with faeces. Photo provided by NikVesti, courtesy of flat owner Nataliia Serhiienko

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with faeces. Photo courtesy of NikVesti, provided by flat owner Nataliia Serhiienko

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with sewage. Photo courtesy of NikVesti, provided by flat owner Nataliia Serhiienko

According to her, the emergency services are called out «almost every other day», and after one drainpipe is cleared, a blockage occurs in another.

«The problem has probably existed since this building was first constructed. We constantly have issues with the drainage system, and they aren’t being resolved. Initially, they used to clear it via our toilet and bathroom. After renovating the bathroom, we moved the access point into the corridor so that cleaning could be carried out there. Now, when the emergency services arrive, they work through our corridor. We’ve already had two explosions, which caused the building to settle. Overall, the drainage system in our block is technically flawed. The building has two blocks, but the second one doesn’t have these problems; however, I’ve never once seen anyone come to clean the drains there. In my flat, on the other hand, this happens constantly, and we’re still suffering from this situation. This is a gross violation of all technical and sanitary standards,» said Nataliia Serhiienko.

In Mykolaiv, residents of the building are complaining about their flats being flooded with sewage. Photo: Natalia Sergienko

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with faeces. Photo: Natalia Sergienko

In Mykolaiv, residents of a block of flats are complaining about their flats being flooded with sewage. Photo: Natalia Serhiienko

The woman adds that because of the situation, she is forced to turn off the water in the building to prevent further flooding, which causes conflicts with neighbours.

«City for People» cleared our system for us, but within a day or even the very same day another pipe gets blocked. I have to call the emergency service almost every other day — it’s simply impossible. You see, the neighbours are also getting angry that I’m turning off the water at the very moment when, excuse my language, there’s shit floating around in my flat. But if I don’t do it, they’ll carry on washing, using the drains, and it’ll all end up back in my flat. Once the neighbours rang and said: «Nataliia, it stinks terribly from your flat.» The flat was empty at the time; I wasn’t living there. When I went in, the sewage had already reached the kitchen: it was everywhere in the hallway. I was up to my ankles in it. I had parquet flooring, and I had to completely strip the floor because it had warped from the damp and dirt. I also threw away the table, which had absorbed all that sewage,» said Nataliia Serhiienko.

In Mykolaiv, residents of the building are complaining about their flats being flooded with sewage. Photo: NikVesti

Meanwhile, a resident of the upper floors, who wished to remain anonymous, notes that the problem has been going on for about 20 years. According to her, the drainage system works ‘very poorly’, and the cause could be either worn-out pipes or the overall design of the system.

«The drainage system works very poorly. It all converges somewhere under the floor, as there is no basement in the building, and this constantly leads to blockages. The building is very old, the pipes are probably worn out too; something happens somewhere, and the system immediately gets blocked. If the residents aren’t at home, all the sewage backs up. So he (the flat owner, — note), when he goes to work, turns off the water. But that’s not a solution. Because if he turns off the water, the others are left without a water supply. We said to him: «What on earth are you doing?» And he replies: «What am I supposed to do, come home from work and clean up the shit?» I say: «But what are we supposed to do without water? You’re working, but are we supposed to sit here without water? This needs to be sorted out somehow,» said a resident in a comment to NikVesti.

Meanwhile, the management company «City for People Mykolaiv», which manages the building, stated that they do not have the authority to ‘carry out redesigns of internal building networks’. They also reported that the sewerage system becomes blocked due to improper use. During recent clearances, foreign objects were removed from the pipes, including underwear.

«At the same time, we would like to point out that the main cause of regular blockages in the sewerage system is its misuse by residents. During the latest emergency clearance work, foreign objects, including underwear, were removed from the system, which is categorically unacceptable for sewerage networks,» said Zhanna Liubchenko, a representative of the company «City for People Mykolaiv».

Response from the management of the company ‘City for People Mykolaiv’. Screenshot of a comment under a post in the Contact Centre group on the Mykolaiv City Council page

At the same time, the company assured that it responds to emergency situations within the scope of its competence.

«We would also like to inform you that, to improve the condition of the network, the water utility has organised a flushing of the courtyard sewerage system. The management company will continue to respond to emergencies within its remit and urges residents to adhere to the rules for using the sewerage system,» they added.

NikVesti also sought comment from the Department of Housing and Communal Services of the Mykolaiv City Council. They noted that they cannot influence the resolution of the situation.

«This is, in essence, a matter between the co-owners of the apartment block and the management company. It is entirely their issue,» said Iryna Krysyna.

As a reminder, in Mykolaiv, residents of the building at 340 Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue are complaining about the management company «City for People Mykolaiv». According to the residents, the company has been charging fees for building maintenance for around six months, despite the fact that since 1 June 2025, the building has been managed by a different company.