Ukraine and Italy have strengthened their partnership in reconstruction and regional support with the signing of a €30 million agreement to build a new medical wing for the Odesa Regional Children’s Hospital.
The agreement, signed by Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba and Italy’s Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa, provides an interest-free loan from the Italian government. Once completed, the new hospital wing will enable over 260 children to receive inpatient care simultaneously. It will also feature eight high-tech operating rooms and fully modernized, European-standard infrastructure, significantly boosting the healthcare capacity of the region.
Italy has been a key partner in Odessa’s reconstruction since 2023, supporting both the city’s recovery from near-daily Russian missile and drone attacks and the preservation of its cultural heritage. At the URC 2025 forum in Rome, Italy signed grant agreements totaling €35.5 million for the restoration of six architectural monuments in Odessa. In collaboration with UNESCO, Italy has also contributed €500,000 to the restoration of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral.
Beyond healthcare and cultural projects, Italy has invested €6 million to modernize irrigation systems in Odessa and has supported regional energy projects. Joint initiatives are also underway in cybersecurity, digital solutions, and transport infrastructure, including rail and aviation sectors.
“European partners are investing not only in Ukraine’s security but also in their own,” Kuleba said. “Ukraine today is a security shield for the EU, and regions like Odessa are vital for maintaining peace in Europe.”
The new hospital project is the result of months of coordinated efforts between the Ukrainian and Italian governments, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Odesa Regional Administration, hospital management, and project designers.
