Zelensky Thanks Italy for Major Role in Odesa Recovery

The restoration of six Odesa-based architectural monuments may start in early 2026. For this purpose, the Government of the Italian Republic allocated EUR 32 million during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome.

The relevant statement was made by Director of the Department for Culture and European Integration at Odesa City Council Ivan Liptuga, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

According to Liptuga, the Italian side joined efforts to restore Odesa’s architecture back in late 2023, having allocated EUR 500,000 for the restoration of the Transfiguration Cathedral. During the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin (URC2024), Italy also signed a memorandum concerning the patronage of reconstruction efforts in the Odesa region.

“Only now, at URC2025, we have signed the agreements, and EUR 32 million will be directed to restore six architectural monuments of national importance in the city of Odesa, such as the Philharmonic, Fine Arts Museum, Museum of Western and Eastern Art, Literary Museum, Marriage Registration Palace, and the house on 6 Prymorskyi Boulevard,” Liptuga told.

In his words, a total of EUR 4 million is expected to be spent on the reconstruction of the house on 6 Prymorskyi Blvd. Here, an office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will open.

Additionally, a total of EUR 2 million will be directed to repair the Marriage Registration Palace. Both objects are on the balance sheet of the city and already have their restoration design documentation developed.

As for the museums that are on the balance sheet of the Odesa region, design documentation is yet to be made. This process may last up to one year.

As noted by Liptuga, the agreement was signed by the Government of the Italian Republic and the Ukrainian Communities and Territories Development Ministry.

“This agreement should be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada, and I hope they will do so by September. After that, funds will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture, and then they will reach the city and regional capital construction departments through subventions. Hopefully, by the end of the year, all formalities will be completed, and [restoration] works will start in early 2026,” Liptuga added.

A reminder that earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for Italy’s assistance with recovery efforts in Odesa.