Ukraine: Major renovation of the Mykolaiv Lyceum — one building, two schools and an underground ‘power bank’
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) unveiled the results of its extensive renovation of the lyceum in Mykolaiv. Funded by a 13.2 million UAH grant from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project brings two educational institutions — one of which lost its own premises to hostilities — under one roof, in safety and warmth.
The lyceum is a comprehensive secondary school in Mykolaiv’s Korabelny district, an area home to over 70,000 residents. In 2022, after shelling destroyed the nearby gymnasium, the lyceum stepped in to accommodate 250 of its displaced pupils. However, due to the limited capacity of the school’s original bomb shelter, children were forced to study in shifts: one part of the pupils attended in person one week, while another took its turn the next.
To resolve this, the DRC took decisive action. Over the course of 13 months, the team carried out comprehensive work in the school’s basement and expanded the existing shelter. This vital upgrade will now allow 900 pupils and 150 staff from both schools to return to safe, concurrent, face-to-face learning.
Every time we bring students in Mykolaiv back to normal offline education is a small victory. We have now ensured shelters for students from both the lyceum and the gymnasium, allowing both students and parents to feel safe and secure. Every day we make good progress together with Mykolaiv city and our partner DRC, hopefully seeing this will encourage even more of our Mykolaiv citizens to return to the city.
Jakob Hansen, Head of Danish Embassy Office in Mykolaiv
An underground energy ‘hub’: inside the new shelter
The new 400 m² shelter is far more than a basic basement with benches; it is a fully self-sufficient, turnkey underground complex. Alongside comprehensive construction and engineering works, DRC has ensured the system’s self-sufficiency:
- Complete autonomy: The shelter features an alternative power supply system equipped with an 8 kW hybrid inverter and a 15 kWh battery. In the event of a blackout, critical systems — including supply and extract ventilation, sewage pumps, lighting, water heaters, and fire alarms — will continue to operate uninterrupted for several hours.
- Future-proof technology: The system is designed with tomorrow in mind, allowing for seamless integration with a solar power plant to render the facility entirely independent of the main grid.
- Safety and Comfort: The space is furnished and equipped with comprehensive CCTV and fire safety systems.
The renovation of this shelter shows what targeted support to local infrastructure can achieve. Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Mykolaiv City Council, DRC helped create a space where two schools can continue face-to-face education under one roof. This is a practical investment in safety, continuity of learning, and the city’s ability to support families who remain in or return to Mykolaiv.
Julian Zakrzewski, Country Director of DRC Ukraine
Driving above-ground energy efficiency
In tandem with the underground works, the DRC significantly improved the energy efficiency of the school itself to prepare it for harsh winter conditions. Contractors dismantled damaged structures and installed:
- 115 energy-efficient windows
- 2 large ribbon windows
- 11 secure external doors
The total area of new glazing spans 380 m², drastically improving the building’s thermal insulation and ensuring a comfortable indoor climate across all classrooms.
"The modern tech in this project is fantastic. We have an advanced ventilation system that lets you dial in a precise temperature, and cameras that let us see exactly what's happening inside the shelter. The automated backup power is a game-changer, too. Before, whenever the power went out, a specific staff member had to go and manually turn on the generator. Now, it kicks in completely on its own—no intervention needed.
Oleksii Gurko, Lyceum Principal
In Mykolaiv city and oblast, a cornerstone of the DRC’s portfolio is a programme funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This initiative drives community recovery by repairing critical infrastructure, boosting training and employment pathways within the reconstruction sector, and strengthening the capacity of local authorities and civil society organisations to deliver vital services.
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