Mykolaiv

Mykolaiv (Ukrainian: Миколаїв, Russian: Николаев, romanized: Nikolayev) is a port city and a hromada (municipality) in southern Ukraine. Mykolaiv is the administrative center of Mykolaiv Raion (district) and Mykolaiv Oblast (province).

Located at the confluence of Inhul and Southern Bug rivers, the city serves as a transportation hub, containing a sea port, commercial port, river port, as well as highway and railway junctions and an airport. Connected to the Black Sea, Mykolaiv is the location of an important bridge crossing. This city is one of the main shipbuilding centers in the region. Aside from three shipyards within the city, there are a number of research centers specializing in shipbuilding, such as the State Research and Design Shipbuilding Center, Zoria-Mashproekt and others. As of 2022, the city had a population of 470,011 (2022 estimate).

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, large parts of Mykolaiv were destroyed by Russian attacks. Mykolaiv holds the honorary title "Hero City of Ukraine".