October 21 left a notable mark on the history of Mykolaiv and the Korabelnyi District. On this day, the future shipbuilding giant “Naval” was officially opened, athletes from around the world gathered at the “Vodolei” swimming complex, the “Ocean” shipyard was struggling with millions in debt and seeking new engineers, and the Port of “Olvia” celebrated an anniversary. There were tragic chapters, too: a fire, the arrest of an official suspected of treason, and Russian missile terror.
October 21, 1897: the “Naval” shipyard opened in Mykolaiv
The “Naval” shipyard was officially opened in Mykolaiv. It would later become the Black Sea Shipyard, one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises. The State Archive of Mykolaiv Oblast confirms that the opening took place on October 9, 1897, Old Style, or October 21 by the modern calendar. Its first director was Belgian engineer Edmund Heinrichovich Harris. The enterprise was also known as the French Shipyard, as its management used French.
October 21, 1937: shipbuilder Ihor Ovdiyenko was born
Ihor Mykolaiovych Ovdiyenko, the future head of two major shipbuilding enterprises in Mykolaiv, was born in Kerch. He headed the 61 Communards Shipyard and the Black Sea Shipyard, and organized work on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Kyiv.” As the Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine notes, the shipbuilder also contributed to the development of large-block shipbuilding technology. In 2010, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Mykolaiv.
October 21, 2013: “Vodolei” brought together a record 183 athletes
The 15th International Diving Cup was officially opened at the “Vodolei” swimming complex in the Korabelnyi District. A record 183 athletes from 9 countries came to compete. The stands were packed, and the local sports school’s students and renowned divers gave exhibition performances. On the very first day, Mykolaiv athletes won 8 medals. For Korabelnyi, this was one of the largest international sporting events ever held there.
October 21, 2013: “Ocean” workers’ unpaid wages reached nearly 9 million
Korabelov.info reported that the crisis at the “Ocean” shipyard was deepening. As of October 1, 2013, unpaid wages totaled 8.89 million hryvnias, and 836 employees had not received their pay on time. In just one month, the debt had grown by almost 2 million hryvnias. Most shipyard workers were on unpaid leave, while some were looking for work at other enterprises or abroad. At that time, bankruptcy proceedings against the shipyard were already underway.
October 21, 2017: the Port of “Olvia” celebrated its 25th anniversary
Employees of the specialized Port of “Olvia,” formerly “Oktyabrsk,” gathered at the Mykolaiv Drama Theatre to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its establishment as an independent enterprise. Port workers received awards from the Cabinet of Ministers, the Verkhovna Rada, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure. The port’s history began back in 1965, when the “Oktyabrsk” port station received its first steamship. In 1992, an independent state enterprise was established on its basis. The port became an important industrial facility in the Korabelnyi District.
October 21, 2019: “Ocean” agreed to train a new generation of shipbuilders
The “Ocean” shipyard signed a four-party cooperation agreement with Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding, the Mykolaiv Professor M. Aleksandrov Maritime Lyceum, and the Institute of Pulse Processes and Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The document was signed on behalf of the enterprise by CEO Viktor Trubach. The agreement provided for joint training of future engineers, lectures, academic events, tours, and hands-on work with young people. The shipyard sought to bring professionals back to shipbuilding in Mykolaiv.
October 21, 2022: SBU detains head of the city funeral service on suspicion of treason
In Mykolaiv, during a meeting attended by Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych, SBU officers detained Oleksandr Sahaidak, director of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaiv Funeral Service.” According to the SBU, the official passed personal data about Ukrainian military personnel and law enforcement officers, as well as lists of fallen defenders, to Russian intelligence services. He also gathered information about the movements of military units and critical infrastructure. He was charged with treason. The court later ordered him held in custody without the right to bail.
October 21, 2023: Olha Kharlan won gold in Istanbul
Renowned Mykolaiv sabre fencer Olha Kharlan won the FIE Satellite international tournament in Istanbul. Her compatriot Alina Komashchuk took silver, and the Ukrainian athletes stood together on the podium. This was Kharlan’s first competition of the new season. After her victory, she shared her emotions, saying that they sang the Ukrainian anthem together and cried with joy.
October 21, 2024: Mykolaiv sabre fencers won gold and bronze at the Ukrainian Cup
At the Ukrainian Fencing Cup in Kyiv, Mykolaiv athletes won 2 medals in the individual event. Yurii Tsap became Ukraine’s sabre champion, while Bohdan Bohovin took bronze, repeating his result from the previous year. The competition took place on October 21, and Korabelov.info reported the victory the following day.
This day in Ukraine and around the world
October 21, 1947: Soviet authorities began the mass deportation of Ukrainians
Soviet security forces launched Operation West, one of the largest mass deportations of Ukrainians. According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, families of members of the Ukrainian liberation movement were forcibly deported from the western regions. More than 76,000 people were deported during the first day. Overall, the operation, which continued until October 26, affected more than 77,000 people, including thousands of children.
That was October 21 for Mykolaiv and the Korabelnyi District: the birth of a shipbuilding giant, international sporting victories, the struggle to protect Balabanivskyi Forest, difficult years for “Ocean,” the development of the Port of “Olvia,” and the trials of wartime. These events remind us how diverse, heroic, and at times tragic the history of our city is.
Previously, we wrote:
- Korabelnyi was meant to become a city, “Oktyabrsk” became “Olvia,” and a dachshund named Diaka survived under the rubble
- A loan for “Ocean,” legal battles over the estuary, and a missile near a home: October 10 in Mykolaiv’s history
- A newspaper, shipbuilders, a cruiser, and “tridenka” at “Ocean,” shelling of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant: a very Mykolaiv October 1
- Hundreds of hectares of nature left without proper boundaries for years: prosecutors protected Balabanivskyi Forest through the courts
- From an order for “Ocean” to gold for Korabelnyi: what made September 19 memorable in Mykolaiv
