"I will always remain a Mykolaiv native in my soul and heart": Vitaliy Kim said goodbye to his post as head of the Regional Military Administration
The region will be temporarily governed by his first deputy, Heorhiy Reshetilov
The former head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim in the evening of 17 July 2026 recorded a farewell video message to the residents of the region.
He announced the end of his tenure after more than five years of work and assured that he would not leave the Mykolaiv region without support.
“Good evening, we are from Ukraine! This is how the strong story of the Mykolaiv region began. Here, in 2022. Today my tenure has come to an end — a little over five years. I am sincerely grateful to all Mykolaiv residents, to all people of the Mykolaiv region for their trust. For everything that we managed to do, and for what we did not manage.”
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No.614/2026 dated 16 July 2026, Vitaliy Kim was dismissed from the post of head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration at his own request. The Verkhovna Rada appointed him Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
Vitaliy Kim emphasized that he will continue to help the region at the national level.
“I am not leaving the Mykolaiv region. I will be strengthening it at a different level.”
Temporarily, the duties of the head of the Mykolaiv OVA will be performed by first deputy Heorhiy Reshetilov. The corresponding decision was formalized by the President of Ukraine by Decree No.617/2026.
The former head of the region described Heorhiy Reshetilov as an experienced official who worked alongside him from the beginning of his tenure.
“The duties of the head of the OVA will be carried out by my first deputy Heorhiy Reshetilov. He is a very experienced person who has worked shoulder to shoulder with me from the very beginning. He has completed a huge amount of work and will receive all the necessary support and authority.”
Vitaliy Kim promised to continue working to attract state funding for the region and to preserve the projects already launched.
“On my part, I will continue to work so that the Mykolaiv region receives funding from the state budget. All projects will continue, and support will be even greater.”
He called his new job very responsible and linked it to supporting Ukrainian defenders. At the same time, Vitaliy Kim did not go into detail about his plans yet.
“I’m moving to a very responsible position because I understand how important this is for our boys and girls. I won’t talk about the future work yet, but I have a serious plan that I am still finalizing.”
At the end of the address Vitaliy Kim thanked the residents of the region and said that regardless of his new position he will remain a Mykolaiv resident.
“Once again, thank you to all Mykolaiv residents, to everyone we worked with — to those with whom things succeeded and to those with whom they did not. Everything will be fine. In my soul and in my heart I will forever remain a Mykolaiv resident. I am proud of it. I will carry forward our culture, our character, and our values. Thank you all. I’m off to work.”
Operational information, air raid alerts and news of the Mykolaiv OVA will continue to be published on the channel of the acting head of the administration Heorhiy Reshetilov.
Vitaliy Kim headed the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration since 25 November 2020, and after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion became the head of the Regional Military Administration.
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