The Mayor of Odesa, Hennadiy Trukhanov, met with the Mayor of the Mladost district in Varna, Mr. Hristo Vidolov Hristov. 

This significant meeting was facilitated by the Ambassador of Odesa in Bulgaria, Mr. Marko Petrov. Odesa and Varna share long-standing sister-city ties, rooted in ancient history when the Greek settlement of Odessos existed on the territory of modern Varna. 

“We have much in common that has shaped our relationships and opens new perspectives for development. Varna, being a maritime city, welcomed many residents of Odesa during the war, most of whom successfully integrated into the local community, preserving the Odesa charm,” noted Mr. Hristov. 

Hennadiy Trukhanov announced the upcoming Bulgarian Culture Days in Odesa at the end of October, organized with the support of the General Consulate. 

The Mayor of Odesa invited his Bulgarian counterpart to participate in the events and proposed discussions on future joint initiatives. The recent natural disasters affecting both Odesa and Bulgarian cities were also mentioned during the meeting. 

As reported by Mr. Hristov, the heavy rain that struck Bulgaria on October 3 resulted in six confirmed deaths, with the toll expected to rise. Odesa also experienced a severe downpour on September 30 that claimed lives. These disasters serve as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of our cities and the importance of international cooperation in preventing and responding to climate challenges.