Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous trolleybuses — the Danish ambassador came to hand over the vehicles

Alisa Melik-Adamian
•
16:55, 09 August, 2025

Mykolaiv received 9 trolleybuses with a 20-kilometre autonomous range. The city received the vehicles in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and with financial support from the Danish Government.

The transfer took place during a visit to the city by Danish Ambassador to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen today, 9 August, NikVesti reports.

The official's visit began with an acquaintance with the enterprise «Mykolaivelectrotrans». Together with the mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, and his deputies, Yurii Andrienko and Serhii Koreniev, they inspected one of the classrooms where electric vehicle drivers are trained.

According to the head of the company, Yurii Smetana, the classroom was renovated thanks to subgrants from international organisations for training tram and trolleybus drivers. This takes about 3.5 months.

During the presentation of the utility's activities, he told the ambassador about the development of «Mykolaivelectrotrans». Currently, the company has 119 trolleybuses, 71 of which are new, of the «Dnipro» brand and 31 PTS trolleybuses, as well as 48 trams.

«The plan set by the Mykolaiv City Council to upgrade the trolleybus fleet can be said to have been fully implemented. We have completely renewed the trolleybus fleet. There is a problem with trams, because trams use Soviet KTMs. In 2024, we transported more than 23 million passengers, 128 kilometres of contact network, and 69 kilometres of flights. We currently employ 816 people. Every day, 27 trams and 51 trolleybuses run on the routes,» said Yurii Smetana.

According to the official, all trolleybuses are equipped with a passenger counting sensor. The control system can track the number of people in the transport online and also count the number of people per day. According to Yuriy Smetana, the number of passengers transported has reached 1.3 million as of today.

As early as 18 August, two routes will be operated by new vehicles received from Denmark.

Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen asked about the company's budget and the state of its financing. In response, Yurii Smetana noted that this year the city council provided the company with funding of 440 million hryvnias, in addition, the company receives additional funds from ticket sales. This is about 52 million hryvnias per year.

After getting acquainted with the enterprise, the Danish official was shown the process of renewing tram rails, in particular on Marko Kropyvnytskoho Street. According to Yurii Smetana, the specialists are using new NT-1 rails for curves, which are used in Europe, as well as fasteners and sleepers for turnouts, which were not used in Mykolaiv before.

«Around Wednesday, we will resume tram №3 running to Raketne Urochyshche. We will continue to work on this section to improve it, but our track restoration service should complete its work. This will allow us to move on to another section, which is a very difficult section along Bohoiavlensky Avenue. We plan to complete the work in 30 days. People will work there in two shifts: from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to complete the work as quickly as possible,» said Yurii Smetana.

Photo report

Mykolaivvelktrotrans utility company. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Photo: NikVesti

Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Yurii Smetana, head of Mykolaivelectrotrans. Photo: NikVesti

Vice Mayor Serhii Korenev. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Yurii Smetana, head of Mykolaivelectrotrans. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen with the mayor and head of Mykolaivelectrotrans. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen with the mayor and the head of Mykolaivelectrotrans. Photo: NikVesti

Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

9 buses received by Mykolaiv in cooperation with the EBRD and the Government of Denmark. Photo: NikVesti

Mayor of Mykolaiv Oleksandr Sienkevych. Photo: NikVesti

Mykolaiv received 9 autonomous buses. Photo: NikVesti

Photo: Alisa Melik-Adamian

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