Duke de Richelieu monument uncovered in Odesa, corrosion found

According to journalists, in March 2022, the Duke de Richelieu Monument was surrounded by sandbags to protect it from possible damage caused by Russian attacks or debris. The monument is located in the city center on Prymorskyi Boulevard, in front of the Potemkin Stairs.

The sandbags were placed directly against the monument without any ventilation gap, which experts said could have damaged it due to constant moisture and pressure over the years.

The removal of the monument’s protective covering was discussed during an extraordinary session of the Odesa City Council on July 14. Council member Oleh Zviahin said the monument should be uncovered and the sandbags removed because the protective measures could pose a threat to it.

Journalists said work on Prymorskyi Boulevard began early on Aug. 16. After municipal workers removed the sandbags from the monument, corrosion was discovered on its surface.

“An initial inspection after the protective covering was removed gives reason for cautious optimism: The monument has suffered no critical damage and no elements have been lost. However, years under heavy, damp pressure have left their mark, with visible damage and signs of corrosion on the bronze surface. Once the remaining protective structures are cleared from Prymorskyi Boulevard, the Duke monument will undergo a detailed expert inspection and comprehensive restoration,” media representatives said.

The monument to Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke de Richelieu, was unveiled in 1828. It was the first monument erected in Odesa and has long been one of the city’s landmarks.

In late July 2026, protective structures were removed from the monument to Lesia Ukrainka in Kyiv. The Kyiv City State Administration said that protecting monuments with modular structures and sandbags in 2022 was a necessary measure that helped reduce the risk of damage. However, Serhii Anzhyiak, director of the city’s Department of Culture, said the nature of the threats had changed over more than four years of full-scale war, prompting changes in approaches to preserving monuments.