Denys Shmyhal conducts a working visit to the Mykolaiv region

During a working visit to the Mykolaiv region, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal reviewed the operation of the command post of the “Mykolaiv” Air Defense Tactical Group and visited a planned military lyceum.

Created in September of this year, the command post is intended to improve the effectiveness of air defense across the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. A continuous presence at the command post is maintained by representatives of the Defense Forces of Ukraine—the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Navy, the National Guard, and the National Police—along with officials from the military administrations. 

 

Joined by Vitalii Kim, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, the Minister of Defence received briefings on the current security situation in the region and on the effectiveness of the available forces and assets. 

“We are scaling the best air defense practices — in line with the President’s directive, similar centers have been established and are developing in other regions. We are improving coordination and strengthening our response system to missile and drone terror,” stated Denys Shmyhal.

Furthermore, command procedures and equipment capabilities to support the further digitalization of the Tactical Group’s units were discussed.

“Protecting our people and our cities is a top priority. I thanked the warriors who defend the skies over the South of Ukraine on a daily basis,” the Minister of Defence stated in conclusion.

 

The visit also included a tour of the planned military lyceum currently under construction in the Mykolaiv region.

“More and more people are seeking to obtain a military education today because it is both prestigious and respected. It is the foundation that will ensure Ukraine’s resilience and defense capability in the future. That is why we are building new lyceums and advancing existing ones. Our goal is for every region to have at least one modern military educational institution,” emphasized Denys Shmyhal.

This will be the first military lyceum in Ukraine built in accordance with the new standards. It will comply with contemporary requirements for energy efficiency and inclusivity. The lyceum, designed to accommodate 300 students, will include shelters, dormitory buildings, and both academic and sports facilities. Classrooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a contemporary learning environment, robotics workshops, drone production facilities, and STEM labs.

The Minister highlighted that design and planning work to advance existing lyceums is also ongoing. Together with military higher education institutions, they will be integrated into a comprehensive next-generation military education ecosystem.