A $3\times 3\times 3$ cube is made of $1\times 1\times 1$ cubes glued together. What is the maximal number of small cubes one can remove so the remaining solid has the following features: 1) Projection of this solid on each face of the original cube is a $3\times 3$ square, 2) The resulting solid remains face-connected (from each small cube one can reach any other small cube along a chain of consecutive cubes with common faces).