A Billion for Odessa's Urban Renewal: What Was Accomplished in 2025, and What Went Wrong

The ongoing maintenance of roads, public squares, and cemeteries in Odesa in 2025 was almost entirely in line with the plan; however, a number of capital projects were completed only partially or not started at all.

The Center for Public Investigations analyzed the report on the implementation of the City’s Targeted Improvement Program for 2022–2028.

The document covers the work of municipal utilities responsible for roads, street lighting, landscaping, cemeteries, and other municipal facilities.

The biggest problems were identified in the execution of capital projects. For example, the municipal enterprise “Odessa Electrical Engineering, Operation, and Installation Company” repaired only one of the four planned power grid facilities, fulfilling 25% of the plan.

The municipal enterprise “Odesmiskosvitlo” did not purchase a single unit of specialized vehicles out of the five planned. In addition, the enterprise replaced only 140 light fixtures out of a planned 1,000 to 1,500 and laid four kilometers of cable instead of 40.

At the same time, in the area of routine maintenance of outdoor lighting, the results significantly exceeded the plan. Specifically, the report notes that instead of the planned 25,000 lamps, more than 52,500 were serviced, and instead of 300 kilometers of cable, 1,563 kilometers were laid. Such discrepancies may indicate inaccuracies in planning or a change in accounting methods.

Other unfulfilled tasks include the removal of hazardous trees near apartment buildings and the dismantling or relocation of monuments and memorials. The report indicates that no work was carried out in these areas in 2025.

Other tasks were partially completed: of the two planned land-use projects for cemeteries, one was implemented, and at the “Zakhidne” Cemetery, only two of the planned eleven facilities underwent major repairs.

At the same time, one of the few areas where the plan was exceeded was the technical re-equipment of the “City Roads” municipal enterprise. Instead of six units of specialized equipment, the enterprise purchased 16, which represents 266.7% of the planned target.

Last year, the Center for Policy Analysis examined how funds for urban improvementin Odesa were used during the tenure of former MayorHennadiy Trukhanov. As analysts noted, the budget was often planned using general terms and without specific details.  

Анна Бальчінос