Book on the History of Southern Bessarabia and Budjak Presented in Odesa

On 20 October 2026, the Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Odesa Regional Universal Scientific Library hosted the presentation of Southern Bessarabia and Budjak in 1808–the 1820s: Sources on Archaeology, History and Cartography. The publication marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Academician Lev Semenovych Berg (1876–1950).

The book was presented by Ihor Sapozhnykov, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Leading Research Fellow in the Department of the Northwestern Black Sea Region at the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The publication was issued by the Institute of Danube Research and its Director, Vitaliy Barvinenko, Doctor of Law and Professor.

Speakers at the presentation included Serhiy Hrynevetskyi, a member of the Odesa Regional Council, Ihor Studennikov, Executive Director of the Centre for Regional Studies, and other specialists.

The event brought together scholars, representatives of libraries and museums, local government, civil society organisations and the media. Participants included Yuliana Amelchenko, Director of the Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Library; Iryna Biriukova, Director General of the Odesa National Scientific Library; and Ihor Pistruil, Director of the Odesa Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Also attending were Yuriy Maslov, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor and Chair of the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “European Union Strategy for the Danube Region”; Volodymyr Levchuk, Head of the civic organisation “Ovid’s Shore Artists’ Union”; and Yuriy Yamkovoy, Executive Director of the Odesa Regional Branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, alongside other representatives of academia, local government and Odesa media outlets.

The publication brings together archaeological, historical and cartographic sources, offering opportunities for a comprehensive study of Southern Bessarabia and Budjak in the early nineteenth century. Comparing these materials is valuable for research into the region’s historical geography, settlements and cultural heritage.

The presentation drew attention to the preservation and promotion of the historical heritage of Ukraine’s Danube region. The book can provide a foundation for further academic research, local history studies and educational initiatives in local communities.