Design of monument to Lesya Ukrainka approved in Odesa

The city of Odesa approved a project proposal for the installation of a monument to Lesia Ukrainka along with landscaping. The decision was made taking into account the results of the competition and the current legislation in the field of urban planning and landscaping.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council.

Members of the executive committee voted to approve the project proposal for the construction of a monument to Lesia Ukrainka in Odesa.

The project determined the placement of the monument in a park with an already established layout - with minimal interference with the existing landscape, green spaces, and alleys. The composition includes a combination of a classic granite pedestal and a bronze figure of the poetess.

According to the project, the total height of the monument will be 4.7 meters: the pedestal made of Tang granite - 2.1 meters, the sculpture of Lesya Ukrainka - 2.6 meters. The pedestal will bear an inscription with the writer's famous quote: "Either perdition or victory - these two roads will stand before us."

Earlier in Odesa, a discussion was held around the monument to Lesya Ukrainka, the competition for which has already cost more than 300 thousand hryvnias and caused controversy over plagiarism. Participants discussed how to make the space around the monument open, modern and interesting for the community.

The event was part of the preparations for the 155th anniversary of the poetess and playwright's birth and brought together authors of competition projects, cultural activists, and the interested public.

In early February, the winning design of the monument to Lesia Ukrainka was presented in Odesa, which caused controversy among the public and experts. Critics pointed to possible plagiarism and questionable artistic value of the sculpture, while some citizens were outraged by the lack of transparency of the competition.

The competition for the best design proposal for the monument to Lesia Ukrainka and the improvement of the surrounding area was announced in August 2025. Professional architects, sculptors, designers, students of relevant institutions, design organizations, and teams of authors were invited to participate.

The competition was held in one round until January 30, 2026. UAH 350 thousand was allocated in the 2026 budget for the competition. The park where the monument is to be erected was renamed in honor of Lesia Ukrainka in July 2024.

Анна Бальчінос