Mitryasova, O. CHRONICLES OF THIRST: DOCUMENTING MYKOLAIV'S WATER SECURITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN A WAR-AFFECTED CITY: Monograph. Mykolaiv: PMBSNU, 2026, 124 p.

CHRONICLES OF THIRST: DOCUMENTING MYKOLAIV'S WATER SECURITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN A WAR-AFFECTED CITY 1.1.MYKOLAIV IS A CITY ON THE WATER: THE HISTORY OF WATER SUPPLY An outpost on the water and a strategic hub in the South of Ukraine If you look at Mykolaiv from a bird's eye view, the first thing that strikes is the dominant presence of water. The city doesn't just stand on the shore; It grows into rivers, occupying a large peninsula, which resembles a piece of land clamped in the palms of the water arteries. In the west and south, it is washed by the majestic Southern Buh (ancient Hypanis), and in the north and east — by the winding Inhul (Fig. 1.1; 1.2). It is here, at the confluence of these rivers, that the Buh estuary is formed - a huge mirror of water stretching for tens of kilometers to the Black Sea. The geography of Mykolaiv is the story of "Knee", as the first settlers called this bend of the river. The high shores of the peninsula created a natural fortress, and the deep channel allowed sea vessels to come close to the shore. This landscape determined the fate of the city for centuries to come: it was doomed to become a sea gateway, where the steppe wind mixes with the smell of salt. The history of Mykolaiv is not a gradual rural growth, but a volitional act of creating an industrial center. Founded in 1789 as a shipyard, it got its name in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. From the very beginning, every stone in the city was laid with the fleet in mind. During the nineteenth century, Mykolaiv turned into the intellectual and technical headquarters of the South. One of the oldest naval observatories in Eastern Europe was founded here so that captains could check the time by the stars. The city was built according to a strict regular plan: straight, wide streets that pierced the peninsula allowed the breeze to purify the city air. In the twentieth century, Mykolaiv became a "city of shipbuilders" on a global scale. Giants were born at its shipyards: from civilian bulk carriers to complex aircraft carrier cruisers. This formed a special type of citizen — engineer, craftsman, worker. The closure of the city in Soviet times only strengthened this internal cohesion and pride in their work. The economic profile of Mykolaiv until 2022 was an example of a powerful export model, which combined heavy industry and modern logistics. The first element is Metal and Machines. Three gigantic shipyards determined the industrial rhythm of the city. Together with them, the world leader in gas turbine construction — the Zorya-Mashproekt plant worked. Its products propelled ships and pumped gas in dozens of countries around the world. It was an economy of high redistribution, based on the experience of generations. The second element is Grain and Ports. Mykolaiv was a key link in global food security. The city's port infrastructure — from the state seaport to modern private terminals like Nibulon — 8