02 September 2026, 19:31
The Odessa City Council was urged to reconsider the date of City Day and hold a discussion
Ця стаття також доступна українською
Photo: Intent
A civic movement has called on the Odesa City Council to hold an open discussion on the date of City Day and to consider moving the celebration from September 2 to May 19.
This is stated in a declaration by the “Space of Freedom” movement.
As the movement emphasized, the date of September 2 is linked to the Russian imperial version of Odessa’s history. According to this version, the city was allegedly founded in 1794, although the settlement of Khadzhibey existed in this area earlier.
“Space of Freedom” proposes tracing Odessa’s history back to 1415 —the first written mention of the city. According to the authors of the statement, May 19 should become City Day.
The statement also draws attention to the recently updated Charter of the Odesa Territorial Community. In it, May 19 is already designated as the day of the first written mention of the port of Kochubiyiv, Kachibey, and Khadzhibey, but September 2 simultaneously remains City Day.
“Space of Freedom” believes that these provisions contradict each other, since the city effectively recognizes its history dating back to at least 1415, yet continues to celebrate City Day based on the date of 1794.
The civic organization proposes holding an open discussion involving historians, archaeologists, and members of the public. Afterward, in its view, the city council should amend the City Charter.
“Space of Freedom” is also calling on the Cabinet of Ministers to amend the 2001 government resolution on Ukraine’s historically significant settlements. The document currently lists 1794 as the date of Odessa’s founding or first written mention.
The organization also proposes revising official websites, tourist materials, and informational resources about Odesa to remove any statements claiming the city was founded in 1794.
“Prostor Svobody” noted that as far back as 2007, it had advocated for celebrating the 600th anniversary of the first written mention of Odesa. In 2015, a corresponding amendment was included in a Verkhovna Rada resolution on commemorative dates; however, the anniversary was not properly observed at the national or local levels.
The organization also supported the appeal by the command of the “Odesa” operational-tactical group to abandon September 2, 1794, as the official date of the city’s founding.
