The Mayor of Odesa, Hennadiy Trukhanov, met with the Mayor of the Mladost district in the Varna municipality, Mr. Hristo Christov.

This meeting was facilitated by Odesa's Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr. Marko Petrov. Odesa and Varna share a sister city relationship and deep historical roots, as there was a Greek settlement called Odessos in the area of modern Varna in ancient times.

“We are united by many commonalities that have shaped our relations and open up prospects for future development. Varna is a seaside city that welcomed many residents of Odesa during the full-scale war. Most have integrated into the community while preserving and passing on the Odesa flavor,” noted Mr. Christov.

Hennadiy Trukhanov announced that the Days of Bulgarian Culture are planned for late October and early November in Odesa, supported by the General Consulate.

The Mayor of Odesa invited his Bulgarian counterpart to participate in the events and suggested discussing the possibility of future joint initiatives. The meeting also addressed the natural disasters that recently affected both Odesa and Bulgarian cities.

As Mr. Christov reported, due to an abnormal rainfall that struck Bulgaria on October 3, six people have been confirmed dead, with the death toll expected to rise to ten. Odesa also experienced a heavy downpour on September 30, which claimed lives. This natural disaster experience served as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of our cities and the importance of international cooperation in preventing and responding to climate challenges.