Once the pride of the Korabelnyi District, and now a "survival quest": what happened near "Vodoliy"?

Residents of Mykolaiv complain about the neglected state of the area around the sports complex “Vodolii” in the Korabelnyi District of the city. This is reported on May 14 2026 by Mykvisti.

According to locals, the paving near the complex is partially destroyed in places, the stairs at the entrance are partly damaged and look unsafe. Benches on the grounds are also damaged: some are broken or dismantled. People separately draw attention to the condition of the building itself. After the Russian shelling, the windows at “Vodolii” remain boarded up, and on the adjacent territory, according to residents, fragments of glass can still be seen.

Residents post videos on social networks and remind that earlier “Vodolii” was one of Mykolaiv‘s most famous sports complexes, where competitions were held and athletes trained.

Local resident Irina said that what she saw near the complex upset her deeply, because for the Korabelnyi District “Vodolii” had for many years been a landmark place.

“I have never been a staunch activist, but what I saw a few days ago saddened me deeply. I’m from Mykolaiv, Korabelnyi District, and everyone at least once — whether locals or visitors — has heard of ‘Vodolii’. It’s a local aquatic complex that used to be very strong, where competitions were held. And look at the state it’s in now. The walls are peeling, the grounds are neglected. It’s just terrible,” — says local resident Irina.

Besides the area around “Vodolii”, residents of the Korabelnyi District also complain about the condition of the space near the Palace of Culture of Metallurgists. According to them, benches there are also damaged, the tiles are ruined, and the fountain has long been out of order and requires repairs.

“Please, look at these benches. It’s embarrassing and frightening to stand by them. I’m simply in shock. Can’t something be done about this? And this is a fountain where children could play. Does it cost the earth? I don’t think so,” — added Irina.

For a district that lacks well-maintained public spaces, such complaints sound especially painful. People are effectively talking not only about individual broken benches or tiles, but about a general feeling of neglect of places that have been important to residents for years.

Previously we wrote:

• Dust, dirt and responsibility “between the authorities”: in Korabelnyi residents pointed to a neglected stretch of the avenue
• The children’s town on Okeanivska has turned into a ruin: residents of the Korabelnyi District beg to restore order
• A manhole cover was stolen near the TCC in the Korabelnyi District: cars are already falling into the trap
• The commission came — the hole remained: asphalt continues to sink in the Korabelnyi District
• Leaky roof: an apartment building in Korabelnyi is being flooded, and the “communal services” stay silent
• Neglected area near the shopping center in Korabelnyi: litter, fallen leaves, broken tiles and pit after pit