Instead of ruins—a modern “space for democracy”: Mykolaiv Regional Council to appeal to Denmark

Mykolaiv Regional Council plans to appeal to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Ukraine, asking for help in arranging the development of an architectural concept for a new administrative building. The building was destroyed by Russian forces in a missile strike in spring 2022. For now, council members are discussing a concept and visualisation of the future premises, not the start of construction work.

The issue was discussed on 19 October 2026 at a meeting of the standing committee of the Mykolaiv Regional Council on science and education, innovation, youth, family and sports, culture, and spirituality.

Committee Chair Yevhen Horburov, elected from the now-banned Opposition Platform — For Life party, recalled that cooperation with the Danish side on rebuilding the destroyed building had been discussed before. The proposal is now to formalise the request and send it directly to the embassy in Kyiv.

“We discussed this after our building was destroyed. There had previously been agreements with representatives of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark. Now we would like this appeal to be sent directly to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Kyiv,” the councillor said.

Tetiana Labartkava, head of administrative affairs at the regional council’s executive office, clarified that the first stage would involve an architectural concept to visualise the future building. The development of full design and cost-estimate documentation would be considered later.

“At the moment, we are talking about a conceptual visualisation of the regional council building itself. The design and cost-estimate documentation will come later,” the official explained.

The draft appeal to the Danish side notes that Denmark is one of Mykolaiv Oblast’s key international partners in restoring critical infrastructure, developing local communities, and strengthening the capacity of local government.

The councillors emphasise that the future building should be more than just administrative premises: it should be a modern, open space where local authorities and residents can interact. The requirements include accessibility for people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility, energy efficiency, modern architectural solutions, and a shelter.

“Rebuilding this facility is not only a matter of restoring administrative infrastructure, but also a symbol of the revival of democratic institutions, the resilience of local self-government, and confidence in the region’s future,” the draft appeal says.

The Mykolaiv Regional Council is asking the embassy to consider supporting a competition to develop an architectural concept and visualisation for the new administrative building, involving Danish architectural firms. The councillors also propose publicising the competition among Danish architectural companies and European expert institutions and, if possible, providing information, consultation, expert, or grant support under current Denmark–Ukraine cooperation programmes.

The appeal must still be considered and adopted at a session of the Mykolaiv Regional Council. So, for now, the plan is to involve international partners in preparing a concept—not to secure approved funding or an approved reconstruction project.

The nine-storey building that housed the Mykolaiv Regional Council, the Regional State Administration, and the Commercial Court of Mykolaiv Oblast was hit by a Russian missile in the morning of 29 March 2022. The strike destroyed the central section of the building from the ninth floor down to the first. According to the Mykolaiv Regional Council, 37 people were killed in the attack. Search-and-rescue operations and the removal of rubble lasted several days. The building remains destroyed.

Previously, we reported:

• “Beyond repair”: Mykolaiv Regional State Administration building may be demolished
• Mykolaiv Regional Council building cannot be restored, Kim says
• A recreation space for city residents may be built on the site of the destroyed Mykolaiv Regional State Administration building
• Reconstructing the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration building will cost one and a half times more than building a new one
• 37 lives taken by a Russian missile: Mykolaiv commemorates victims of the strike on the Regional State Administration