The Ministry of Culture has introduced a new procedure for documenting cultural heritage sites.
The Ministry of Culture has announced a new procedure for scientific and project documentation for cultural heritage sites and their areas. The documentation will define the conditions for using the sites and restrictions for preservation: for sites of national significance, it will be approved by the Ministry of Culture, and for local sites, by the bodies responsible for heritage protection. The review period will be no more than 30 days. This is particularly relevant for Odesa, whose historical center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has announced a new procedure for the development and approval of scientific and project documentation for cultural heritage sites and their areas. This documentation should specify the specific conditions for the use of objects and the restrictions necessary for their preservation.
The documentation for national significance landmarks will be approved by the Ministry of Culture, while documentation for local significance landmarks will be approved by the relevant cultural heritage authorities. The documents are to be reviewed within no more than 30 calendar days.
For Odesa, whose historical center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the issue of development in the historic environment is particularly relevant. According to the Odesa city council, as of June 2026, the city has suffered damage to 270 historical and architectural sites as a result of the Russian aggression. Conflicts have also arisen in Odesa regarding the development of historical areas, for example, in the Pale-Royale square, a planned summer playground was replaced with a metal frame on a concrete base.
Approval of the order does not mean an automatic ban on any construction near historical buildings: specific restrictions will be determined for each object based on relevant documentation.