School mining in Mykolaiv: Kyiv will be asked to provide police protection for the institutions.

School Bomb Threats in Mykolaiv: Kyiv Urged to Provide Police Support for Educational Institutions

The Education Department of the Mykolaiv City Council is requesting that deputies reach out to Kyiv to secure funding for the operations of police officers dedicated to “educational safety,” tasked with guarding schools and kindergartens.

This information was disclosed during a meeting of the permanent deputy commission on health care and social protection of the Mykolaiv City Council. Anna Lychko, the head of the education department, was the speaker on this issue.

The official reminded deputies that since mid-January, law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports of “bomb threats” at educational institutions almost daily. According to her, during mass “bomb threats,” the police are unable to respond to all calls in a timely manner.

In light of this, the education department is asking city council deputies to contact President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to inform them of the situation in the city. They are also requesting that Mykolaiv be included in a project that would see police officers for “educational safety” present in educational institutions.

- These officers were introduced in 2023 in those educational institutions that were operating in-person at that time. Unfortunately, we were not operational then. However, the city of Mykolaiv is very eager to participate in this project and proposes that it be considered for funding from the state budget, - said Anna Lychko.

Additionally, the official highlighted the need to amend the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine's resolution dated November 1, 2024, “On the Implementation of an Experimental Project to Enhance the Safety of the Educational Environment in General Secondary Education Institutions Under Martial Law.” This amendment would grant the “educational safety” police the authority to inspect school and kindergarten premises in the event of a “bomb threat” report.

- This issue is not only pressing for the city of Mykolaiv. We propose to include in this resolution an addition to the powers of these “educational safety” police, specifically point 17, which would ensure the organization of the implementation of action plans in the event of a bomb threat at an educational institution. This would empower these officers to conduct inspections of educational institutions for explosive materials, - said Anna Lychko.

The head of the education department also noted that constant “bomb threats” hinder children from learning normally and lead to frequent disruptions of classes. Therefore, the education department is requesting that deputies send a letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, asking for amendments to the joint order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine “On Approving the Procedure for Early Warning and Evacuation of Participants in the Educational Process in the Event of an Attack or Risk of Attack on an Educational Institution.” The education department seeks permission to continue classes after inspecting the educational institution and confirming there is no danger.

Commission members supported the draft decision, which will be further considered by deputies in a session of the Mykolaiv City Council.