50 Years for Aviators, 20 Minutes for Ocean’s Shareholders, and a Thousand People for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: November 4 in Mykolaiv

November 4 has left a notable mark on the history of Korabelnyi District and Mykolaiv. On this day, the story of a legendary aviation unit began, residents campaigned to bring back a night train, Ocean shareholders failed to hold a meeting, and city councillors argued over the sale of port land. In later years, the date became associated with unfulfilled transport promises, support for the military, the grim statistics of war, and a mass protest calling for funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

November 4, 1976: the story of the Kulbakine air brigade began

The 299th Naval Assault Aviation Regiment was formed at Saky airfield in Crimea. Its successor was the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Lieutenant General Vasyl Nikiforov. The unit’s history was recounted by the military themselves. In 2005, the brigade was relocated to Kulbakine airfield in Mykolaiv. On November 4, 2026, its predecessor marks its 50th anniversary.

November 4, 2012: Korabelnyi gathered 225 signatures for a night train

Residents of Korabelnyi District collected 225 signatures outside the Furshet supermarket calling for the return of a convenient night schedule for the “Kyiv–Mykolaiv” train. The campaign lasted just 1 hour, and local schoolchildren were among the volunteers. The previous day, a similar drive in the city centre had gathered another 710 signatures.

November 4, 2013: Ocean shareholders were 20 minutes short

An extraordinary meeting of shareholders of the Mykolaiv shipbuilding plant Ocean could not take place due to a lack of quorum. A company representative said that only 20 minutes had been allocated to register approximately 15,000 shareholders. The meeting was to consider financial results, the composition of the management team, and how to cover the plant’s losses.

November 4, 2013: controversy over the sale of land to the Nika-Tera port

At a press conference in Mykolaiv, MP Serhii Kaplin accused the city authorities of selling land to the Nika-Tera port at an undervalued price. The land in question covered more than 100,000 sq. m, and on October 31 the city council had agreed to sell it for 42 UAH per square metre. According to the MP, this was five times below market value. He raised suspicions of corruption, although the article provided no evidence of bribery.

November 4, 2014: Mykolaiv repair workers handed 2 armoured personnel carriers to special forces

At the Mykolaiv Diesel Locomotive Repair Plant, workers restored and handed over 2 armoured personnel carriers to the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center. The repair was funded by lecturers and students of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University. Special forces representative Vasyl Savenko thanked the plant workers for returning the combat vehicles to service.

November 4, 2015: Senkevych attended the debate; Diatlov did not

Ahead of the second round of the Mykolaiv mayoral election, a televised debate was held on First National TV, attended only by Oleksandr Senkevych. His opponent, Ihor Diatlov, declined to participate, saying the event’s rules were unacceptable to him. As a result, Oleksandr Senkevych answered questions from the host and viewers on his own.

November 4, 2016: Korabelnyi was promised a trolleybus by 2018

Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych promised a trolleybus line from Peremohy Square to Zhukovske Circle by 2018. At the time, more than 140 lighting poles were being installed along the “stretch”, with the future overhead contact system in mind. However, the first trolleybus route, No. 10, to Korabelnyi District was launched only on October 4, 2024, thanks to trolleybuses with autonomous operation.

November 4, 2020: Korabelnyi was looking for medical staff for a new infectious diseases hospital

The administration of City Hospital No. 5 announced recruitment for anaesthesiologists, nurses, and other specialists for a new Infectious Diseases Centre being built with the support of the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant. The facility was scheduled to open on December 1, 2020, although construction was still underway when the announcement was made. Medical workers from other cities were promised help with rent.

November 4, 2023: nearly a thousand Mykolaiv residents demanded funds for the Armed Forces

About 1,000 people gathered outside the Mykolaiv City Council building for a “Funds for the Armed Forces” protest. Participants demanded that more budget funds go to supporting the military instead of being spent on asphalt, paving stones, and other works. The protest’s main slogan was “Living heroes, not paving stones”.

This day in Ukraine and around the world

On November 4, 1956, Soviet troops launched a large-scale offensive on Budapest, crushing the Hungarian Revolution. And on November 4, 2018, 33-year-old Kateryna Handziuk died in a Kyiv hospital. A civic activist from Kherson, she had been doused with sulphuric acid on July 31. Her death became a symbol of Ukrainian society’s fight against impunity for attacks on public figures.

That is how November 4 became part of the history of Mykolaiv and Korabelnyi District: an anniversary for military aviators, challenges facing shipbuilders, support for Ukraine’s defenders, unfulfilled promises, and residents’ struggle for a fair allocation of public funds.

We wrote earlier:

• Red carpets from the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, 19 marines returned from captivity, and missiles on Korabelnyi: November 3 in Mykolaiv’s history
• Two ships in one day, Ocean’s bankruptcy, missile tragedies, and sporting victories: November 1 in Mykolaiv
• Hectares for the port, debts for the plant, gold for athletes: October 31 in Mykolaiv’s history
• Ocean was drowning in debt, the Skazka park was up for sale, and Korabelnyi was promised a bridge: October 30 in history
• Ocean’s debts, six missiles, and a protest against paving stones: October 28 in Mykolaiv’s history