Mykolaiv. The city was founded in the late 18th c. In 1788 on
the site of the present-day Mykolaiv a dockyard was built. Till 1882 the city
was a military port that played an important role in the creation of the Black
Sea Fleet and the defence of the southern borders of the Russian Empire.
The first street which started the city was Admiralty Street. Names of other
streets are connected with the names of outstanding naval commanders who lived
and worked there in various times: F. Ushakov, M. Lazarev, G. Butakov, A. Greig,
and others. F. Bellinshausen, P. Nakhimov and V. Kornilov came here to supervise
the construction of ships. In 1821-1827 an observatory was built in Mykolaiv to
provide the Russian fleet with astronomical data and training of naval officers.
Among the architectural monuments which have been preserved mention should be
made of the fountain (1792), St. Nicholas' Church (1813-1817) the Admiralty, the
House of flag-officers, captains and the commander-in-chief of the Black Sea
Fleet (1829).
Many famous representatives of Ukrainian art and culture worked in Mykolaiv,
among them M. Staryts'kyi, M. Kropyvnyts'kyi, M. Zankovets'ka, M. Sadovs'kyi and
M. Sadovs'ka. The Art Museum exhibits works by artists of the 19th - 20th cc.
and contemporary painters as well: V. Vereschagin, I. Aivazovsky, I. Repin, I.
Levitan, I. Shishkin, B. Kustodiev, and S. Gerasimov.
Ochakiv. The history of the town goes to the remote ages. It is
known that as far back as the 1 st - 3rd cc. the Sarmatian town of Alektor stood
on the place of contemporary Ochakiv.
In the 1430s, Lithuanian feudal lords founded there the Dashiv Fortress which
was soon captured by the Crimean Khan Menglis-Guirei. On its site the Turkish
stronghold Kara-Kermen appeared which with time was renamed Ochakiv. The
fortress became one of the centres of the Ottoman Empire on the Black Sea coast,
the base for plundering raids of Turkish and Tatar invaders to Ukrainian lands.
During the Russo-Turkish War (1735-1739) the army led by B. Minich took Ochakiv
by storm. However, according to the peace treaty it remained within the Ottoman
Empire. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1791 Suvorov's troops again seized
the fortress. One of the attacking corps was led by M. Kutuzov.
The Turkish Mosque, architectural monument of 1804, now houses the
Military-Historical Museum. Its exhibits tell about the unforgettable events of
Russo-Turkish wars. The diorama Storm of Ochakiv Fortress is one of the most
interesting exhibits. Near the museum monuments were built to commemorate A.
Suvorov, M. Kutuzov, F. Ushakov, P. Bagration, M. Barclay de Tolly, and M.
Platov. The name of Lieutenant P. Schmidt, who headed the mutiny on the Ochakov
cruiser, is also associated with the history of the town. Near the building
where the trial of the leader of the uprising was held now stands the monument
to P. Schmidt.
Parutyne. The remains of the ancient Greek city of Olbia, which
ceased to exist about the 5th c., were found in the outskirts of the village.
The artifacts found during the excavations testify to the high level of the
development of crafts, commerce and culture in ancient Olbia. Its inhabitants
knew casting technique, metal-working, and pottery. Remains of dwelling houses,
temples, trade and other premises are evidence of the high level of Olbian
architecture.
Voznesens'k. In the 15th c. the Turkish fortress Chichaklei
stood on the territory of contemporary Voznesens'k. During their southern
campaigns the Lithuanian princes ruined the fortress and built their own
fortification. At the beginning of the 18th c., this fortification passed to the
Zaporozhian Cossacks and got the name of Sokoly winter camp.
After the Russo-Turkish War (1768-1774) the Buz'ke Cossack Army was created on
the borderland. The Buz'ki Cossacks became the founders of Voznesens'k in 1795,
which grew on the site of the Cossack winter camp. In 1803 Voznesens'k became
the main station of the Buz'ke Cossack Army. Time and again the freedom-loving
Cossacks took up arms against their oppressors but every time their rebellions
were cruelly suppressed.
In the early 1830s, in view of the Tsar's arrival to the town there were built a
castle and a palace for him, pools, artificial cascades, pavilions, and the
Mariin Hai Park was laid out. The park and some structures from that time have
been preserved.
Yelanets'kyi Steppe reserve. The reserve was founded in 1996.
Its area is 1,675.7 ha. Though small, its territory is characterised by rather
diverse biota. The vegetation cover is represented by natural steppes and their
varieties. By the composition of rare and endemic representatives of flora and
fauna, the reserve is of great scientific and environmental importance.
Oblast farmsteads