Odessa is consistently implementing European accessibility standards, showcasing a systematic approach to inclusion in the urban environment.
On February 27, during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Odessa City Council, the Action Plan for Creating a Barrier-Free Space for 2025–2026 was officially approved. This document outlines a comprehensive transformation of the urban landscape — from infrastructure and transportation to education, recreation, and digital services.
The plan aims to create an accessible city for people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and everyone facing barriers in everyday life. It is not just about adapted facilities, but about a holistic system of convenient movement and interaction with the city. The focus is on equal access to transportation, information, communication, education, sports, rehabilitation, and other key areas.
The implementation of the plan is overseen by the Barrier-Free Council, which includes representatives from city authorities, veterans, and civil organizations, including people with disabilities.
«Odessa should be comfortable for everyone. We are elevating the issue of barrier-free living to a qualitatively new level and making it part of the strategic vision for Odessa's development», — emphasized Mayor Gennady Trukhanov.
«We see barrier-free living as a comprehensive change: accessible transport, safe crossings, well-thought-out stops, and accessible infrastructure. These are not isolated solutions but a unified logic that works for everyone — from people with disabilities to parents with strollers», — stressed Alexey Morozov, Deputy Head of the Barrier-Free Council and Head of the NGO «Barrier-Free».
In collaboration with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, the project «Movement Without Barriers» is being implemented. Its strategic importance has been confirmed at the state level: on March 26, a meeting of the National Council on Barrier-Free Living was held with the participation of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Odessa has become one of the cities actively involved in preparing projects in the fields of education, culture, and social services.
Particular attention was paid to the «North-South» project — one of the flagship routes within the initiative of the Ministry of Community Development «Barrier-Free Routes». Recently, a part of this route was presented in Odessa to representatives of the ministry who arrived from Kyiv. It runs from the Peresyp district to the Administrative Services Center on Kosivska Street and will be part of the new system of accessible urban mobility.
