Sandbag Protection for Odesa's Duke de Richelieu Monument Now Poses a Risk.

Condition of the Duke de Richelieu Monument

According to Novyny.live: The Duke de Richelieu monument, situated on Odesa's Primorsky Boulevard, is at risk of damage from moisture accumulating in the sandbags installed to shield it from wartime attacks. These protective sandbags were placed at the start of the full-scale invasion, but after several years, they have grown significantly heavier due to absorbed moisture.

Without a protective layer beneath the bags, the bronze statue could begin to corrode. Maria Yanushkevych, a monument conservation expert, noted:

"If moisture has accumulated in the bags, it's not ideal. The monument is bronze, and the top layer could develop corrosion. However, it's not critical—it can be cleaned." - Maria Yanushkevych

This highlights the urgent need to monitor the statue's condition and take appropriate protective measures.

Potential Solutions for Protecting the Monument

Proper protection for the monument could involve:

• wrapping it in cloth,
• then covering it with moisture-resistant film,
• and only then surrounding it with sandbags.

"If the monument is first wrapped in cloth, then in moisture-resistant film, and only then covered with sandbags, nothing bad will happen to it," Yanushkevych stated.

However, another issue exists: the sandbags themselves degrade over time, turning to dust and crumbling away. "These bags eventually turn into such debris and simply disintegrate. Who does this and how it's done is also important to monitor," she added. This indicates that not only the metal of the monument requires attention, but also the very materials used for its protection.

Meanwhile, in the Odesa region, the municipal authorities of Tatarbunary are awaiting a professional assessment from the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory regarding the dismantling of a monument to Alexander Pushkin. This demonstrates active work towards preserving cultural heritage, though the situation with the Duke de Richelieu monument requires immediate action to prevent potential damage.

The situation with the Duke de Richelieu monument underscores the critical importance of proper care for cultural landmarks during wartime. The challenges of protecting Ukraine's historical sites have become increasingly significant, drawing greater international focus to the nation's cultural heritage. Local authorities, as seen in Tatarbunary, are actively engaged in monument preservation, reflecting a growing responsibility to safeguard historical legacy amidst contemporary crises.