On June 11, the Government of Ukraine approved a decision to allocate 115 million UAH for Odesa. These funds will be directed towards the implementation of the first phase of the accessibility route — the longest in Ukraine — which includes both tram and pedestrian connections.
The project plans to allocate over 1.1 billion UAH to 11 pilot communities to create an accessible environment under the flagship project of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development "Movement without Barriers". This initiative is supported by the First Lady, Olena Zelenska.
It is worth noting that the mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, has declared 2025 as the Year of Accessibility in Odesa. The city authorities, led by the mayor, are actively working on creating an inclusive environment: a Council for Accessibility has been established, a city program and action plan have been adopted, and priorities have been defined across various areas: infrastructure, transport, rehabilitation, adaptive sports, digitization, and more. The coordination of all directions is managed by the mayor's advisor on accessibility issues, Oleksiy Morozov.
According to Morozov, the effectiveness of this work is ensured by a strong team: in addition to relevant departments and services, the Council for Accessibility includes veterans and people with disabilities, who determine priorities and oversee each stage.
"Just a year ago, Odesa residents could not have imagined that by the summer of 2025, our city would transform into a powerful rehabilitation center. Recently, a fully upgraded inclusive beach at the 11th station of the Great Fountain will open, along with a large inclusive sports ground equipped with adaptive equipment. The process is moving quickly and smoothly," Morozov stated.
Regarding the "Movement without Barriers" project, Odesa is a leader: the longest inclusive tram route "North-South" is being implemented in the city. Additionally, there will be an inclusive pedestrian route, with work on its implementation actively ongoing.
The Accessibility Council conducts regular field inspections, where every stop, pedestrian crossing, building entrance, route arrangement, and their condition are checked. Project ambassadors, including Valentina Khoruzha, who heads the Youth Council in the city, are involved in this work.
"Such coordination allows us to effectively meet existing needs for accessible infrastructure. It's important to me that from initiative to implementation, it takes weeks, not years. Projects do not remain on paper; they are brought to life. I am very grateful to Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov for his full support of this crucial work," Oleksiy Morozov emphasized.
"Movement without Barriers" is a flagship project of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development, implemented within the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska "Without Barriers". The project aims to create accessible routes in pilot communities: Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Lviv, Rivne, Chernivtsi, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Slavutych, Kropyvnytskyi, Bucha, as well as in the villages of Opishnia and Borodianka.
