On June 11, the Government of Ukraine approved the allocation of UAH 115 million to Odesa for the implementation of the first stage of a barrier-free route, which will become the longest in Ukraine and include both tram and pedestrian connections.
The project provides more than UAH 1.1 billion in funding to 11 pilot communities to create a barrier-free environment as part of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development's “Barrier-Free Movement” initiative, under the patronage of First Lady Olena Zelenska.
Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov has declared 2025 the Year of Accessibility in Odesa. The local government is implementing an action plan to create an inclusive environment, including the Accessibility Council and setting priorities in areas such as infrastructure, transport, rehabilitation, and adaptive sports.
Oleksii Morozov, the mayor's advisor on accessibility, coordinates the work in all areas, involving veterans and people with disabilities in identifying priorities and monitoring progress.
“Just a year ago, residents of Odesa couldn’t imagine that by summer 2025 our city would become a major rehabilitation center. A new inclusive beach will soon open at the 11th Station of Velykyi Fontan, along with a sports ground equipped with adaptive training machines,” Morozov noted.
Odesa is leading the implementation of the “Barrier-Free Movement” project, particularly through the introduction of the longest inclusive tram route, “North–South,” and a pedestrian route that is already actively in progress.
The Accessibility Council conducts regular inspections of stops, pedestrian crossings, and building entrances. Ambassadors have been engaged in the project, including Valentyna Khoruzha, head of the city’s Youth Council.
“This coordination allows us to quickly respond to the needs for accessible infrastructure. It’s important that it takes weeks, not years, from idea to implementation,” emphasized Oleksii Morozov.
The “Barrier-Free Movement” is a key project of the Ministry, implemented under the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska, aimed at creating barrier-free routes in pilot communities such as Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, and others.
