Kim's preparing «tourist magnets» for the future: places where the Russian offensive was stopped and a tour «How the Moscow was sunk» on the example of a cruiser «Ukraine»

Missile cruiser «Ukraine» (demilitarised), archive photo by NikVesti

The Mykolaiv Regional State Administration is working on updating the tourist map of the region. They plan to include new sites that became iconic during Russia's full-scale invasion.

Mykola Marinov, deputy head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration for Tourism, told NikVesti.

One of the future tourist attractions could be the missile cruiser «Ukraine», which is stationed in Mykolaiv. It is the twin brother of the Russian cruiser «Moscow», which was destroyed by the Ukrainian defence forces in 2022. In the future, there are plans to hold excursions on board to re-enact the events and demonstrate exactly where two «Neptune» missiles hit a similar Russian cruiser.

The sunken flagship of the Russian fleet, the cruiser «Moscow»

In addition, experienced divers are considering organising a dive to the sinking site of «Moscow» in the Black Sea, subject to the availability of appropriate equipment and permits.

The idea of such an excursion route was previously supported by former Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov. He suggested starting the trip in Mykolaiv with a tour of the cruiser «Ukraine» and ending with a dive to the sunken Russian flagship.

«We have two serious locations that I think will become magnets after the war. I don't say three, because you already know about one — the cruiser «Ukraine», which is in Mykolaiv. With a good guide — especially if it's a person who served in the navy — you can clearly show: this is where the first «Neptune» hit. There was, roughly speaking, a canteen for the staff, other premises... It would have been a good location. We considered it before the war, but not in this context. It could also be a cool tandem, for example, to go to the place where the cruiser «Moscow» was sunk and scuba dive there. Divers have told me that with a large cylinder and the appropriate permit, you can even dive there,» said Mykola Marinov.

The updated tourist map will also include Voznesensk and Bashtanka, towns that have become symbols of heroic resistance in southern Ukraine.

«We have two more major locations: the place where the Russian offensive in the south and on Odesa stopped — Voznesensk. It was this town that turned the tide in the southern direction. The second location is Bashtanka, where an incredible amount of equipment was destroyed. These are the two places of glory in Mykolaiv region — the ones that are well-known and the ones that were key in the first period of the war. I think as soon as the situation stabilises a bit, people will go there to see it,» added Mykola Marinov.

A bridge was blown up in Voznesensk to stop the Russian advance. Archive photo: NikVesti

Bashtanka centre, 1 March 2022

In early 2025, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Vitalii Kim, announced the launch of new tourist routes in the Mykolaiv region. He reminded that the region's tourist routes, developed in 2021, are fully ready for implementation. They cover popular destinations such as Pervomaisk «Myhiia», Mykolaiv and Kobleve, and are designed for one, three or seven days of travel. However, in the post-war era, adjustments need to be made and elements of military tourism added.

In 2023, the expanded map «of tourist magnets» included 8 sites in the Mykolaiv region: Aktovskyi Canyon, Trykratskyi Forest, Lake Balastne, Olvia, two national parks — «Buzkyi Gard» and «Sviatoslav's White Coast», Myhia and Kinburn Spit.