Odessa is getting ready for summer—a place where you can relax without any risk
The summer season in Ukraine is about to begin, and Odessa remains the top seaside destination as usual; however, some popular resorts, including Zatoka, will remain closed this year. Rescue workers emphasize that the distinction between official and unofficial beaches is now critically important, as people’s safety directly depends on it. This was stated by Marina Averina, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service in the Odesa region.
Marina Averina explained that even inspected beaches cannot guarantee complete safety due to the war, constant air raid alerts, and threats from the sea. “You can’t say that it’s 100% safe to relax on the beaches that are inspected. Because the war is still going on here, and constant attacks continue,” she noted.
According to Averina, official beaches undergo mandatory inspections and must meet strict requirements: divers survey the seabed, lifeguard stations are set up, safe swimming boundaries are marked with buoys, and shelters must be located no more than 500 meters away. However, even these conditions do not override the basic wartime rule—to remain vigilant and respond to alarm signals.
She also emphasized that water quality is checked by other agencies, and in the event of serious problems, beaches may be closed to the public altogether. Last year, over 30 beaches were officially open in Odesa, and authorities expect there will be enough this season as well, so there will be no need to go to unregulated sections of the coast.
However, unofficial beaches remain dangerous, as there are neither lifeguards nor inspections of the seabed for explosive devices. That is why the State Emergency Service urges people to refrain from visiting such places, especially in areas where tragic incidents involving mines in the water have already been recorded. “Of course, official beaches are safer, but that doesn’t mean people should continue to ignore safety rules,” the spokesperson emphasized.
In particular, the beaches in Zatoka will not be open this year, despite the fact that people continue to travel there. Rescuers are reminding the public of fatal incidents from previous years, when a day at the beach ended with people being killed by explosive devices in the sea.
In Chornomorsk, the situation may be more flexible—only one beach was open there last year, but this season they are considering opening more locations. The final lists of official beaches in Odesa and Chornomorsk are expected to be released closer to the start of summer.
As a reminder, the enemy is deploying small assault groups in the border area instead of sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
The State Border Guard Service also reported a decrease in the activity of enemy DRGs.
