On the eve of the City Day, the cultural center UNION hosted the presentation of a new book from the series "Cities and Years" — "ODESA. History, Traditions, Love and Pain".

This publication is part of an extensive project that has been revealing the lives of Ukrainian cities for the past decade — from Kyiv to Kharkiv, from Lviv to Dnipro.

The book"ODESA. History, Traditions, Love and Pain" combines archival documents, photographs, and personal stories to illustrate what Odesa was like and what it has become — in all its beauty and suffering.

The authors include Mykhailo Poizner, Gabriel Mykhailov, Oleg Etnarovych, Oleksandr Hrabovskyi, as well as photographers Ihor Sytnyk, Borys Bukhman, and Oleksii Achepovskyi.

The program included live interactions with the authors, meetings with well-known local historians, and discussions about the latest cultural-historical myths of Odesa, creating an atmosphere of genuine Odesa spirit.

Odesa's mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, wrote in the book's preface:

«Odesa is a city that exists in two dimensions: in reality and in legends. This book is not just a recounting of dates and facts but an attempt to grasp the spirit of Odessa, its ability to regenerate and influence human fates. From the first stone building to modern changes, from the heroic defense in 1941-1944 to the challenges of the 21st century, Odesa not only survives — it remains a symbol of resilience in the fight against fascism and Rusian occupiers, embodying creative energy and an endless quest for freedom. Turn the page — before you is Odesa.»