A joint mission from UNESCO and ICOMOS has begun its visit to Odesa to examine the city's cultural heritage.

«We are pleased to be here and look forward to fruitful collaboration. Our goal is to gather data and conduct consultations that will help determine the next steps for protecting your cultural values», stated Ms. Berta de San Cristobal, head of the mission.

The monitoring mission was initially scheduled for earlier this year but was postponed due to escalating regional tensions. The primary task of the mission is to evaluate the condition of the World Heritage site and the implementation of previous recommendations made during its inclusion in the list.

Among the recommendations is the preservation of the cultural heritage in its original form. The mission will also identify key attributes that confirm the uniqueness of the site and examine risk factors for its preservation.

Experts noted that some issues are caused by the war, while others are linked to emotions and political factors.

«Our focus is not politics, but preserving history and culture. We must protect our cultural values for future generations», emphasized Odesa's mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov.

The mission will last several days, including meetings and field consultations. Over the course of the war, Odesa has experienced around 10 significant attacks, resulting in damage to approximately 170 cultural heritage sites.