After the gymnasium was destroyed, there wasn't enough space for the children: the lyceum in the Korabelnyi District received a new shelter

In Mykolaiv, in one of the lyceums of the Korabelnyi district, a modern autonomous shelter was equipped for students and staff. The space was created with the support of international donors — the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

The educational institution previously had a shelter, but after a nearby gymnasium was destroyed, the lyceum took in its students. As a result, the existing safe space was no longer sufficient for the normal organization of the educational process during the war.

The city received assistance from international partners. Over 13 months, a technical basement was transformed into an additional full-fledged shelter equipped with everything necessary for the prolonged and safe stay of the lyceum’s children and staff.

Representatives of the donors and city and regional authorities attended the opening of the space. Among them were Deputy Mayor Serhiy Korenev, head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim, head of the Embassy of Denmark office in Mykolaiv Jakob Hansen, director of the Representation of the Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine Julian Zakrzewski.

The area of the new shelter is 400 sq. m. A full range of construction and installation works was carried out here: soil was removed to increase the height of the room, the floor, walls and ceiling were finished, electrical and plumbing networks, ventilation, fire alarm and video surveillance were installed. The room was also provided with backup power and furnished.

The total cost of the work performed amounted to about UAH 13.2 million.

Head of the Embassy of Denmark office in Mykolaiv Jakob Hansen emphasized at the opening that such projects are important not only as shelters but also as additional spaces for children’s education under wartime conditions.

“The shelter was made to a very high standard and, I hope, the school will be able to use these premises not only as a shelter but also as an additional educational space. It has everything necessary for safe and comfortable learning for an extended period. Unfortunately, we see that attacks by Russia continue and we need to keep investing precisely in this area of security for children. Over these three years we have equipped more than 60 shelters in Mykolaiv and the region and will continue to work in this direction. We coordinate all needs with the city and region and thus ensure that we are truly supporting the people of Mykolaiv and doing what they need,” – Jakob Hansen said.

The new shelter is completely autonomous. It is equipped with an alternative power supply system consisting of a hybrid inverter with a capacity of 8 kW and battery storage with a total capacity of 15 kWh. This is intended to ensure uninterrupted operation of all systems in the room during power outages.

In addition to outfitting the shelter, donors also replaced damaged windows and doors in the lyceum itself.

The lyceum director Oleksii said that after the basement reconstruction the institution received not just a renovated shelter but a space that can operate even without electricity.

“After the basement reconstruction, a major renovation was carried out here. And most importantly — an inverter with a 15-kilowatt battery was installed. All systems — ventilation, pumps, sewage — will all work even without power. I sincerely thank all partners, everyone who participated in the renovation of this room,” said the lyceum director, Mr. Oleksii.

Deputy Mayor Serhiy Korenev thanked the Kingdom of Denmark, the DRC and other partners for supporting Mykolaiv. According to him, restoring schools, equipping shelters and repairing social facilities is not only a matter of infrastructure but also a condition for people to return to the city.

“We are very pleased to have partners like the Kingdom of Denmark and DRC. This is a huge support for our city and its residents. By restoring schools, building shelters and repairing social facilities, thanks to the support of our donors and partners, we are effectively restoring a comfortable life and creating conditions for people to return to the city. Therefore this work and support are invaluable to us. It gives Mykolaiv and its residents the opportunity to exist, to believe in the future and to continue living in our city,”.

Thanks to the implementation of this project, more schoolchildren in the Korabelnyi district will be able to study in safer and more comfortable conditions despite the ongoing military threats and attacks from Russia.

Earlier we wrote:

• Metal detectors for pupils: how the police operate in the lyceum of the Korabelnyi district
• Readiness of shelters or “Entrance prohibited”: how pupils are protected in the Korabelnyi district during the war
• Children were led out of the shelter during an alert: Mykolaiv parents shocked by the school’s negligence
• There are only four round-the-clock shelters for everyone in the entire Korabelnyi district, according to “Diia”
• The protective shelter in the lyceum of the Korabelnyi district is ready around the clock to save residents’ lives