Attachments
Key findings
As a frontline oblast, Mykolaiv continues to grapple with pressing needs stemming from the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion. In response, various funding pledges and interventions have been directed towards rebuilding social and local economy and infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast. This report seeks to identify key entry points for local authorities and development actors to support recovery efforts and contribute to resilience enhancing initiatives in the face of the ongoing challenges.
Resilience
- Mykolaiv Oblast is among those oblasts most affected by the consequences of the war, with respondents reporting some of the highest levels of exposure to war related adversities – second only to those in Kherson Oblast. Around 60% of the citizens surveyed have personally experienced missile strikes or drone attacks, and actual fighting or shelling. Further, 17% reported that their home or property had been damaged, 15% experienced the death of someone close to them due to war, and 16% witnessed someone being shot, wounded, or violently attacked.
- Respondents who have sustained injuries, lost a loved one, or witnessed violent acts, such as someone being killed, shot, wounded, or violently attacked report a high level of psychological strain, which manifests as an increase in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlighting the toll of direct exposure to war and the need for targeted mental health support. At the same time, respondents in Mykolaiv Oblast who have experienced missile strikes or drone attacks, and actual fighting or shelling demonstrate an increased ability to cope with stressful or challenging life events compared to those who have not had such experiences, suggesting a possible adaptive resilience in response to prolonged exposure to war-related stressors.
- Although respondents in Mykolaiv Oblast rate the availability of psychological counselling and psychosocial support services higher than the national average (6.1 out of 10 in Mykolaiv Oblast and 4.9 for the national sample), rising demand still outstrips supply. Substantial access gaps persist particularly in rural communities. A little over half of residents say they can physically reach a psychosocial support provider and readily obtain information, yet only 44% regard those services as financially affordable, and about 48% judge them effective and delivered with respect and impartiality.