Italy pledges €32m to restore Ukraine's cultural heritage as Moscow lashes out over defence appointment

Rome— Italy has reaffirmed its political and cultural support for Ukraine with a €32 million commitment to restore historic landmarks in Odesa, while Moscow has sharply criticised Rome's appointment of former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov as an adviser on military innovation.

The announcement came as Ukraine marked the 35th anniversary of its independence, with the Colosseum illuminated in yellow and blue in a symbolic display of solidarity. During a meeting at the Collegio Romano, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli welcomed Ukraine's new ambassador to Italy, Ihor Brusylo, and reiterated Italy's determination to protect a cultural heritage threatened by Russia's invasion.

“Preserving Ukraine's cultural identity means defending the memory and future of Europe,” Giuli said, describing culture as a powerful instrument in support of democratic values and freedom.

Italy confirmed that it will launch a restoration programme worth more than €32 million for six important cultural institutions in Odesa. The Central Institute for Restoration will train Ukrainian specialists, while the two countries also agreed to organise a major exhibition in Rome centred on The Taking of Christ, the celebrated painting attributed to Caravaggio and housed in Odesa's Museum of Western and Eastern Art. Both governments also pledged to expand opportunities for Ukrainian artists to perform and exhibit in Italian cultural institutions.

Brusylo praised Italy's leadership in promoting the Manifesto on Cultural Resilience, adopted during the Rome Conference on Ukraine's Reconstruction, calling it a significant step towards safeguarding Ukraine's heritage during the war and rebuilding it afterwards.

The diplomatic meeting coincided with a fresh exchange between Rome and Moscow over defence cooperation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova derided Italy's decision to appoint Fedorov as a consultant to the Defence Ministry, describing it as “ridiculous” and comparing it to a satirical fairy tale by Italian author Gianni Rodari. She accused Western governments of exploiting Ukraine and claimed Ukrainian officials were turning wartime experience into personal international careers.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto dismissed the criticism, insisting that Italy's strategic decisions are made independently. “We think about Rome, not Moscow, Kyiv or Washington,” he said, adding that Fedorov's expertise in drones, air defence and unmanned systems would strengthen Italy's defence innovation at a time when European security remains under growing pressure.

The appointment reflects Rome's broader effort to combine military modernisation with continued support for Ukraine, reinforcing both the country's cultural resilience and its capacity to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression.

PS