A joint mission from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS is currently visiting Odesa.

«We are pleased to meet you in your city. Our mission focuses on gathering information and holding consultations to outline the next steps for creating recommendations to safeguard the attributes of the World Heritage site from various threats,» stated Ms. Bertha de San Cristóbal, head of the Europe and North America section of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

The monitoring mission was originally scheduled for 2023 but was postponed due to increased shelling intensity. 
The joint mission aims to assess the overall condition of the World Heritage site and evaluate the implementation of recommendations provided during the inclusion of Odesa’s historic center in the World Heritage List. 

One of the recommendations was to maintain the integrity of the World Heritage site. Specifically, attributes of universal value, preservation issues, and conditions for its integrity and management will be identified. 

International experts noted that some issues are objective and related to the war, while others stem from emotions and political factors. 

«UNESCO is not about politics; it’s about history, culture, and our heritage. For us, the people of Odesa, it’s about our lives. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of the site of universal value—the historic center of Odesa—is crucial,» emphasized Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov. 

The mission will be active in Odesa for several days, including various meetings and field consultations. Over the nearly three years of war, approximately 10 significant attacks have occurred on the World Heritage site and its buffer zone. In total, about 170 cultural heritage monuments have sustained varying degrees of damage in Odesa.