Kim gave a frank interview to the Belarusian opposition media: We told the Russians, «Here's $10,000 for you — let us restore the water»

Vitalii Kim, head of Mykolaiv RMA, September 2023. Photo: NikVesti

The head of the Mykolayiv regional military administration gave an interview to the opposition Belarusian publication «Zerkalo», in which he touched on a wide range of topics related to the war, the three-year lack of water and the mood of the local population.

The interview appeared on the media website on Monday, November 18.

At the beginning of the conversation, the journalist recalled that the last time Vitalii Kim spoke with their media was in the first days of the invasion, and asked the official what had changed over the past two years and why he was less active in the public space.

To which the head of the region replied that the first days of the war were a «romantic period» when it was necessary to maintain the morale of the people. He was able to do this at the expense of motivational video appeals in the Telegram channel.

«In some ways, 2022 was romantic: you are at war, you are engaged in urgent matters, on which everything in the world depends. So far, some bureaucracy has returned, we have restored about six thousand objects. The next year's task is to restore the economy. It's very difficult with closed ports, but we will do it. A number of large enterprises, even bombed ones, have already been launched. I now have other tasks and goals, so there is no need to be present in the media field so much,» recalled the head of RMA.

Today, he believes, the Mykolaiv region has become more resilient, and people have rethought their values and adapted to new realities. This is particularly evident in the fact that almost all residents who left the region have returned. According to Vitalii Kim, about 1.1 million people currently live in the region, 100,000 of them are immigrants.

Although the villages on the occupied Kinburn Peninsula are still under the control of the Russian army. Specifically, there are almost no residents there, and the Russians are on constant alert, says Kim.

Soldiers of the Russian army on the territory of occupied Kinburn, summer 2024. Photo: TASS

Soldiers of the Russian army on the territory of occupied Kinburn, summer 2024. Photo: TASS

«The Russian occupiers are sitting in dirty pants and waiting every day for us to start beating them back. They are in full combat readiness, there is nothing for them to do now, they are firing at us from there — they are hitting civilian cars that are driving on the roads, — says Vitalii Kim. — It was a protected area — pine trees, sand, sea, beauty. There are practically no residents there, maybe there are a few units left. We have no land connection with this peninsula. There is no way to get from there to the main part of the region.

In the interview, they also talked about the almost three-year absence of drinking water. In particular, the journalist reminded Vitalii Kim that after the Russians cut off the water supply in the Kherson region, he said that they wanted to negotiate with the Russians and fix the pipe.

Vitaly Kim confirmed this and said that the talks were conducted through the Kherson city council and the then mayor Ihor Kolykhaev.

At one time, the Russians offered us 10,000 dollars to restore the damaged area and restore water.

In April 2022, the Russians destroyed the water pipeline through which Mykolaiv received drinking water. Photo from open sources

«I am reporting specifically for the FSS and SSU: the agreement was made either through the mayor of Kherson or his deputy. The occupation was fresh even then, some left, and some did not. And through them it was agreed that the Kherson machine from the water supply company with the pipe would go to the junction of the front. Let me say this — it got to the point where we said: «Here's $10,000, we'll transfer it to you, just let us fix the water.» Even so, agreements were made,» Kim recalls the details of the agreements.

Despite the fact that water supply in Mykolaiv remains a problem, all other critical infrastructure has been restored by 99%, says Vitalii Kim.

The only building, the fate of which is currently not planned to be taken care of, is the destroyed Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.

In March 2022, the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration was hit by an aerial bomb. Photo: NikVesti

The authorities intend to demolish it, but this issue is postponed until the end of the war, and the further designation of the site will be decided taking into account the opinions of the people of Mykolaiv.

«I don't think that there should be such an old building of the Soviet Union right in the center of the city. A smaller building will be enough for us to manage (the area), and a hotel can be built here, or perhaps people will want to create a public recreation area here. I don't know. We will ask people,» he says.

The question of the situation that will develop in Ukraine after the elections in the USA was not overlooked in the interview. Vitalii Kim did not comment on Donald Trump's possible plans to freeze the conflict, but expressed the opinion that all further decisions regarding Ukraine will be primarily related to the financial interests of America and China, and only secondarily to Russia.

«Unfortunately, we are hostages of the situation here, because we are not powerful enough to resist the Russian machine for a long time. We need ammunition and help to defend ourselves effectively,» says Vitalii Kim.

The head of the Mykolaiv RMA added that society is tired of a three-year full-scale war that is taking away its best people.

«We are getting tired, we have fewer people, we are losing the best. If Russia sends, excuse me, bio-waste, then we have the best boys and girls fighting. Everyone gets tired. Three years is a long time, so I have a hard time answering this question. A fighting spirit is required. If Trump says: «Here are missiles, hit the Kremlin,» — oh, we would do something right now,» he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vitalii Kim in Mykolaiv, 2022. Photo: Press Service of the President's Office

At the same time, the demand for presidential elections among Ukrainians is currently minimal, according to Vitalii Kim, because the people currently need peace and stability, which only the current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, can provide today.

«Only those who want to run for office want elections. People don't need electrions — they need peace and stability in life. Who will do it? He will not promise, but will do! So far, except for the current president, no one can offer anything reasonable. And on the character, roughly speaking, on the back of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the whole of foreign economic policy is talented. I think that for the people the elections are very secondary — we need peace and victory,» the head of the Mykolaiv Region summarizes the conversation.

We will remind, as of September 2024, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Vitalii Kim, has 46% in the rating of trust of Ukrainians among politicians. He is second after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose rating was 51%.