October 20 left plenty of unusual events in the history of Mykolaiv and the Korabelnyi District. On this day, beer production resumed after the war, an aircraft carrier set sail from the Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant for the first time, a book about Bohoyavlensk was presented, and decades later Russian missiles struck Korabelnyi. We look back at these and other events that took place on October 20.
October 20, 1946: Mykolaiv brewery produces its first postwar beer
After the destruction of World War II, the Mykolaiv brewery finally resumed beer production. As documents from the State Archives of Mykolaiv Region confirm, the brewery’s buildings had been destroyed, and reconstruction began only in April 1944. The workers repaired the equipment themselves and installed fermentation vats; on October 20, 1946, the brewery began producing its first postwar batch of beer. The enterprise gradually returned to its prewar production levels.
October 20, 1989: the future “Admiral Kuznetsov” sets sail from Mykolaiv for the first time
The heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser “Tbilisi”, built at the Black Sea Shipbuilding Plant, left the shipyard quay for the first time and set off for flight-design tests. The ship, bearing hull number 111, traveled along the Southern Bug Estuary through the Dnieper-Bug Estuary Canal toward Ochakiv. The event was recorded even in a speech by Black Sea Shipyard director Yurii Makarov, dated October 20, 1989. The cruiser was later renamed “Admiral Kuznetsov” and became part of the Russian navy.
October 20, 2012: a book about Bohoyavlensk is presented in Korabelnyi
A presentation of the local history book “Bohoyavlensk and Its Surroundings”, by Ivan Snytko and Valentyn Kasianovskyi, was held at the Metallurg Palace of Culture. The book was published in a print run of 5,000 copies. The hall was packed: the organizers had to bring in extra chairs, and some attendees stood. City council member Serhii Isakov sponsored the publication. The book was an important effort to preserve the history of Bohoyavlensk, Vitovka, and the surrounding settlements for future generations.
October 20, 2015: former Korabelnyi police officer sentenced for beating students
The Central District Court of Mykolaiv sentenced former Korabelnyi District Police Department officer Oleksandr Fartushnyi to 2 years and 1 month in prison for beating young people. The trial dragged on for years: earlier verdicts were reviewed, while the victims insisted on a fair punishment. Later, the court of appeal reduced the remaining sentence to approximately 3.5 months, after time spent in pretrial detention was credited.
October 20, 2018: “Diesel Show” star killed in a road accident
Actress Maryna Poplavska died in a road accident in Kyiv Region. A bus carrying the “Diesel Show” cast collided with a truck. The tragedy had a special significance for Mykolaiv: the well-known comedy project grew out of the Mykolaiv KVN team “Diesel”, whose members later became popular performers on national television.
October 20, 2022: S-300 missiles strike a former car market in Korabelnyi
In the morning, Russian forces attacked Mykolaiv with S-300 missiles. One strike hit the site of the former car market in Korabelnyi District. That night, the region was also attacked by Shahed-136 strike drones. The Defense Forces destroyed 14 drones, but another 4 hit a city educational institution, causing fires. According to reports from the Regional Military Administration at the time, there were no civilian deaths or injuries.
October 20, 2023: President Zelenskyy visits Mykolaiv
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting in Mykolaiv with the regional and city leadership and military officials. They discussed port protection, the safety of Black Sea shipping, energy, and water supply. Special attention was given to the quality of the water supplied to city residents after Russia destroyed the water supply system.
October 20, 2023: the Horizontal Oak in Korabelnyi receives designated protection boundaries
The authorities announced that the boundaries of the “Horizontal Oak” botanical natural monument in Druzhba Park had been marked out on the ground. The protected area covers 0.05 hectares, and at the time the tree’s crown was reported to span 20 meters. In September 2026, Druzhba Park as a whole, covering more than 81 hectares, was granted protected status.
October 20, 2024: 150 Mykolaiv residents rally in support of prisoners of war
A peaceful rally calling for the return of prisoners of war and efforts to find missing defenders took place in Mykolaiv. About 150 people took to the streets with flags, portraits of loved ones, and posters. Among the participants were the families of service members who had been waiting months or years for news of their loved ones, including defenders of Mariupol.
On this day in Ukraine and around the world
October 20, 1917: Congress of the Free Cossacks concludes
The All-Ukrainian Congress of the Free Cossacks concluded in Chyhyryn. It had run from October 16 to 20 in the New Style calendar (October 3–7 in the Old Style). The Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine notes that around 200 delegates represented approximately 60,000 Cossacks. The congress approved the organizational structure of the Free Cossacks and elected General Pavlo Skoropadskyi as their ataman.
October 20, 1930: Bolsheviks execute a general of the Ukrainian People’s Republic
In Moscow, the Soviet authorities executed Yurko Tiutiunnyk, a general of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and one of the leaders of the Second Winter Campaign. He was one of the best-known military figures of Ukraine’s struggle for independence.
October 20, 1973: the famous Sydney Opera House opens
Queen of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the building was later recognized as one of the most outstanding architectural icons of the 20th century.
That was October 20 for Mykolaiv and the Korabelnyi District: from the recovery of industry and the construction of enormous ships to preserving historical memory, protecting nature, and facing the trials of war.
We previously wrote:
- From the laying down of a cruiser to a missile strike on a market: what made October 15 memorable in Mykolaiv
- From Mykolaiv beer to world gold: what made October 13 remarkable
- Where Cossacks guarded the estuary: the history of Balabanivka, Vitovka, and Shyroka Balka
- Nearly 38 years of waiting: Druzhba Park in Korabelnyi District finally receives protected status
- The first combines, an aircraft-carrying cruiser, and School No. 48’s stadium: what made September 1 memorable in Mykolaiv
