The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announces that the gradual return to normal operations of the Consulate General of Romania in Odesa is 'an objective desired by the Romanian community,' according to a press release issued by the institution.

On Wednesday, the Government approved the appointment of Doru Liciu as Consul General of Romania in Odesa, following a period in which the consulate's activity was coordinated by an interim chargé d'affaires. Prior to this appointment, Liciu served as chargé d'affaires ad interim at Romania's Embassy to Türkiye. He has been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2007, served as consul in Toronto between 2008 and 2017 and subsequently headed the Diplomatic Archives Unit Service.

After the outbreak of the war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to suspend the activity of the Consulate General in Odesa, with the interim chargé d'affaires, who at that time managed the consular office's activity, being relocated to Romania's Embassy in Kyiv.

The Consulate General of Romania in Odesa resumed its activity in autumn 2025 on a limited basis (presence of the chargé d'affaires for 14 days per month), against the backdrop of the security situation in Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that it aims for a gradual return to normal operations, insofar as safety conditions allow.

'This is an objective desired by the Romanian community in the Odesa region (over 120,000 people according to the 2001 census) and was also raised to President Nicusor Dan at the meeting held with representatives of the Romanian community in June 2025. Even under limited operating conditions, the Consulate General in Odesa has managed in recent months to resume and support important cultural activities for the local community, to identify assistance projects financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs/RoAid and to undertake regular visits to predominantly Romanian local communities,' the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The ministry also underlines the strategic importance of the Odesa region, where Ukraine's largest port is located, an essential hub for connecting the country to the global market, including with regard to grain transport.

Consular activity has so far been carried out in an itinerant format, through monthly visits by the head of the consular office from Kyiv to Odesa for periods of approximately two weeks. In total, seven such itinerant missions have been organised. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)