{"id":614835,"date":"2026-09-13T10:57:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T07:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/09\/614835\/mykolaiv-opened-the-free-stage-and-revived-the-tradition-of-honorary-citizenship\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T10:57:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T07:57:59","slug":"mykolaiv-opened-the-free-stage-and-revived-the-tradition-of-honorary-citizenship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/09\/614835\/mykolaiv-opened-the-free-stage-and-revived-the-tradition-of-honorary-citizenship\/","title":{"rendered":"Mykolaiv opened the \"Free Stage\" and revived the tradition of honorary citizenship"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Mykolaiv<\/strong>, on the occasion of City Day, a new art space, the \u201cFree Stage\u201d<\/strong>, was officially opened at the Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theatre<\/strong>. On the same day the city resumed the tradition of awarding the title \u201cHonorary Citizen of the City of Mykolaiv\u201d<\/strong>, which had not been continued since the beginning of the full\u2011scale invasion.<\/p>\n

The art space was created with the support of the organization \u201cSave the Children in Ukraine\u201d<\/strong>, the public organization \u201cSouthern Development Strategy\u201d<\/strong> and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark<\/strong>. The theatre director Artem Svistun<\/strong>, on behalf of the troupe, thanked everyone who helped open the new venue. It will be available to residents on Wednesdays: the space will host various events aimed at supporting mental health.<\/p>\n

The ceremonies began with the performance of the State Anthem of Ukraine<\/strong> and the anthem of Mykolaiv<\/strong>. After that, attendees observed a minute of silence to honor the defenders who gave their lives for the country\u2019s freedom.<\/p>\n

The Mykolaiv city mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych<\/strong>, in an address to the participants, spoke about the resilience of the city\u2019s residents, the importance of preserving city traditions and the people who defend and support the city.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI congratulate everyone present on the Day of our native Mykolaiv<\/strong>! A city is not roads and buildings, but the people who live here. The people who defended Mykolaiv<\/strong>, hold the South<\/strong> and continue to invest their efforts in its support. Mykolaiv<\/strong> is a city with an interesting, controversial and motley history. Our history has been constantly rewritten, and at the same time we are now at the epicenter of historical events. We will need time to rethink it, find new heroes and remember them. Today our heroes are the Armed Forces of Ukraine<\/strong>: brave men and women who defend our city and state, looking not to the past but to the future. I thank each and every one who, on the front line and at the rear, does everything to ensure the city\u2019s basic needs and by daily work brings our victory closer. Congratulations to everyone on the holiday! I very much hope that next City Day we will celebrate in a peaceful Mykolaiv<\/strong> and a peaceful Ukraine<\/strong>,\u201d the mayor said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The title \u201cHonorary Citizen of the City of Mykolaiv\u201d<\/strong> was posthumously awarded to two<\/strong> Heroes of Ukraine<\/strong> \u2014 Colonel Ihor Bedzai<\/strong> and Colonel Hennadiy Matuliak<\/strong>. The mayor presented the honorary distinctions to their families, and the names of the fallen Heroes were entered into the Book of Honor of the City of Mykolaiv<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The families of fallen servicemen were also presented with state and military awards:<\/p>\n