In the Odesa region, the state returned to its ownership the palace-manor of the Dubetsky-Pankeevs – the estate where Serhiy Pankeev, known in the world history of psychoanalysis as the “Wolf Man”, Sigmund Freud’s patient, once lived. About this reported prosecutor’s office of Odesa region.
The investigation established that in 2010 the architectural monument was transferred to private ownership under the condition of its preservation, proper care and restoration works. However, the new owner ignored these obligations – for more than 15 years, no measures were taken to protect the object, and the structure remained in a state of disrepair.
Due to the violation of the terms of the contract and legislation on the protection of cultural heritage, which was contrary to public interests, the prosecutor’s office appealed to the commercial court. The court satisfied the claim and declared the sales contract invalid, ordering the building to be returned to the state. We are talking about the ruins of a manor with an area of more than 2300 m², located in the village of Vasylivka, Odesa district.
The palace was built between 1830 and 1854 in the style of classicism according to the project of the architect Franz Boffo. Initially, the estate belonged to the family of Major General Vasyl Dubetskyi. In 1862, the palace was sold, and the merchant Konstantin Pankeev became the new owner.
It was in this manor that Serhiy Pankeev grew up – a patient of Sigmund Freud, who, in order to preserve confidentiality, called him “Wolf Man”. Pankeev told Freud about a recurring nightmare from childhood: a pack of wolves with short tails sits in front of the window and looks at him, after which one of them jumps onto the windowsill. This dream always caused a strong fright and woke him up. Freud interpreted this dream as an unconscious reaction to observing a sexual act between parents at an early age.
In 1937, the palace was nationalized by the Soviet authorities. After the end of the Second World War, a village school worked in the building, and later it was used for the needs of the local administration.
