Petition to protect architectural monument registered in Odesa

An electronic petition has been registered in Odesa demanding to protect the architectural monument at 10 Frantsuzsky Boulevard and make decisions in the field of cultural heritage more transparent. The initiator of the petition claims that the historic building is at risk of destruction and calls on the city authorities to intervene immediately.

The initiator of the appeal, Artem Kasparyan , emphasized the risks of destruction of historic buildings and demanded a response from the city authorities.

The author of the petition noted that it is a cultural heritage site of local significance - the buildings of the brewery and warehouses of the early 20th century, which are under state protection. Despite this, after being damaged by a drone strike in 2025, dismantling work began in March 2026.

The appeal emphasizes that the situation has revealed systemic problems: decisions on land and development in areas with monuments can be made without proper public discussion and expert evaluation. The author pays special attention to the fact that the historic center of Odesa is under UNESCO protection and therefore requires an increased level of protection.

The petition contains a number of requirements for the city council and the military administration. In particular, it is proposed to

• consider the situation at a session of the city council;
• publish full information on the legal status of the site and the permits issued;
• hold public hearings with the participation of experts;
• introduce mandatory public discussion of decisions on development in historic areas;
• contact the relevant state authorities and law enforcement agencies to verify the legality of the work;
• in case of violations, initiate termination of the land lease agreement.

As of the time of publication, the petition is at the stage of collecting signatures: it has been supported by 23 people out of the required thousand. The signature collection will last until the end of June 2026.

At the same time, Olha Kvasnytska , a member of the Odesa City Council, claimed manipulations with the General Plan and the actual failure of the monument protection system. It turned out that the problem was not in the documents, but in corruption, sabotage, and lack of professional city management. Her statement was made against the backdrop of the destruction of a historic building at 10 Frantsuzsky Boulevard.

Also, the Department of Culture of the Odesa Regional Administration won an appeal in the case of the cultural heritage site at 10 Frantsuzsky Boulevard in Odesa.

Анна Бальчінос