Members of the 122nd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine have successfully concluded a campaign to clean the Cossack Sotnykivske cemetery in Odesa. The defenders have restored one of the most significant historical monuments in the city, which counters Russian myths about Odesa's origins.

This initiative was led by Lieutenant Colonel Denys Nosikov, who emphasized the symbolic importance of the work carried out, as reported by the 122nd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, this place dismantles the enemy narrative about the city's true history.

“This is one of the most prominent sites in Ukrainian Odesa. Its very existence dismantles the enemy myth that Odesa is supposedly a 'Russian city.' The first graves appeared here in 1791, well before Empress Catherine II supposedly 'founded Odesa,'” noted Lieutenant Colonel Nosikov.

The commander drew a parallel between military service and the restoration of the historical monument. He stressed that fighting misinformation is as crucial as combat operations on the front line.

“We are clearing weeds — both in the trenches at the front and right here in Odesa. This weed can be compared to Russian propaganda — the myths and fakes that have polluted the city's history. There is still much work to be done, but we will do everything for victory!” emphasized Denys Nosikov.

Historical facts confirm Odesa's Ukrainian roots. The first mention of Cossacks in Odesa dates back to 1489, which is several centuries earlier than the Russian period in the region's history. The city is economically and culturally connected to all regions of Ukraine, and its development was based on Ukrainian grain long before the Russians arrived.