Oct. 2, 2025, 3:58 p.m.
(Odesa Museum of Western and Oriental Art. PHOTO: mcsc.gov.ua)
The government has approved a draft law ratifying a grant agreement with Italy to restore Odesa's cultural heritage. The program provides for the restoration of museums, the Philharmonic, and other historical monuments in the city center.
This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a draft law on the ratification of the Grant Agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the Italian Republic. The next step will be its consideration and approval by the Verkhovna Rada.
According to the press service, this decision paves the way for the launch of the program "Restoration and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Odesa Region," which has been jointly prepared in recent months by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, and Italian partners.
The agreement was signed on July 10 in Rome during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025). Italy will allocate 32.5 million euros of non-repayable assistance to Ukraine to implement the program.
The project involves the restoration and preservation of monuments in the historic center of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The objects to be restored include: Odesa National Art Museum, Zontag House, Palace of Marriages, etc.
Preservation of cultural heritage is about our identity, history and the opportunity to show the world our heritage even in times of war. I am grateful to the Italian government, the Italian Embassy and all partners for their support and fruitful cooperation," said Acting Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Tetiana Berezhna.
The first agreement provides for a grant of €27.5 million for the restoration of Odesa's architectural monuments. The funds will be used to restore the Odesa Philharmonic, Potocki Palace, Museum of Western and Eastern Art, and the Literary Museum, and the project also includes the creation of modern public spaces for tourism development.
The second loan agreement provides for EUR 30 million on favorable terms: for 20 years, of which the first 10 years are without repayment, at 0% per annum. These funds will be used to build a new building of the Odesa Regional Children's Hospital.
Анна Бальчінос