On 28 – 29 August, the EU Delegation to Ukraine organised a training session for national and regional media with the participation of leading experts on EU-related topics.

Over 20 journalists from across Ukraine gathered in Odesa oblast for two days of interactive learning with leading experts on EU-related topics.

During the training, participants:

• deepened their understanding of Ukraine’s EU accession process and the broad support that the EU has provided since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion;
• explored the history of the EU’s formation, its institutional structure and core values;
• learned how to identify disinformation about Ukraine's accession to the EU;
• discovered where to find reliable sources of information and how to create media materials on EU-related topics.

Beyond the sessions, journalists saw the EU’s impact firsthand through visits to key EU-supported initiatives in Odesa oblast:

• Modern underground shelter in Molodizhne— built in less than a year within the “New underground shelters for schools in Ukraine” Programme (implemented by CPVA), facility ensures safe offline learning for 700 pupils. The modern radiation-proof shelter will also serve as an underground school, cultural centre, and youth hub. It consists of 24 rooms for various.

• The Citizens’ Safety Centre in Avanhard — constructed in 2025 under the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme financed by the European Investment Bank. With a budget of UAH 21.8 million (20% co-financed by the city), the centre strengthens emergency response and firefighting capacity for Avanhard and nearby communities to cope with the consequences of Russian shelling.

• Reconstruction of Odesa Maternity Hospital №5 — also financed by the European Investment Bank, with a total budget of UAH 175.2 million (including 20% co-financing by the city). Serving 5,000 patients annually, the hospital is undergoing a full reconstruction: insulation, roof replacement, modernised networks, new equipment, and landscaping.