The city of Odesa is actively pursuing initiatives for barrier-free access, setting an example of a systematic approach to inclusion.

During the Executive Committee meeting on February 27, the Strategy for Creating an Accessible Environment for 2025–2026 was officially approved. This document outlines a comprehensive modernization of urban settings — from infrastructure to digital services.

The primary goal of the plan is to create a city accessible to everyone: people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and others facing barriers. This involves not just adapting facilities but also establishing a holistic system for easy mobility throughout the city. The focus is on equal access to transport, information, education, and other essential areas.

Oversight of the Strategy's implementation is carried out by the Barrier-Free Committee, which includes representatives from the government, veterans, and NGOs, including people with disabilities.

«Odesa must be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the topic of barrier-free access to a new level and making it part of the strategic vision for city development,» stated Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.

«We view barrier-free access as a comprehensive change: convenient transport, safe crossings, well-thought-out stops. This is not just isolated solutions but a unified logic that works for everyone,» emphasized Oleksii Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Committee.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its significance has been confirmed at the national level: a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council was held on March 26 with the participation of First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Particular attention is given to the «North-South» project — one of the flagship routes under the initiative «Barrier-Free Routes». Recently, a part of this route was presented in Odesa to ministry representatives who came from Kyiv.