From February 11 to 14, a joint mission of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS assessed the state of Odesa’s historic center, a World Heritage Site, and reviewed the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.
During the visit, mission representatives met with key stakeholders, including officials from Odesa region, the city administration, and the seaport. Deputy Minister Serhii Bieliaiev represented the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
The delegation examined the historic center’s structures, boundaries, and urban planning. Discussions focused on site management, preservation efforts, damage mitigation, restoration priorities, and securing international support for rehabilitation.
The mission’s working sessions brought together officials from Odesa City Council, architectural associations, civil society organizations, research institutions, and cultural sector representatives. At Serhii Bieliaiev’s initiative, experts from the National Research and Restoration Center of Ukraine also participated.
This UNESCO-ICOMOS mission is a key step in protecting Odesa’s cultural heritage and fostering international cooperation for its restoration.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the site and its buffer zone have suffered nearly ten attacks, damaging about 170 cultural sites.
