Ukraine’s Odessa opens some beaches for the first time since the Russian invasion

ODESSA, Ukraine, Aug 12 (Reuters) – Several beaches in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa have officially opened for swimming for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, although bathing is prohibited during airstrike warnings. , local officials said Saturday. .

Odessa, Ukraine’s largest port and naval base, came under repeated missile and drone attacks and the sea was littered with hundreds of sea mines after the invasion in February last year.

For the safety of the residents and after incidents of mine explosions on beaches, the coast was closed.

The decision to open the beaches was made jointly by the city’s civil and military administrations, Odessa Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.

He said the beaches would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Oleksandr, a lifeguard and former scuba diver who gave only his first name, said a mine net was placed between two piers to prevent swimmers from coming across mines in shallow water.

“The network will stop them. And they (mines) will also be visible from the coast in such weather conditions. Emergency workers will be notified, they will come to handle it,” he said.

The opening of the beaches has been a welcome respite from the war for people who swim and sunbathe.

“I have been dreaming of going to the beach and inhaling salty air. We have been missing it so much. But safety is a top priority,” said Svitlana, a resident of the Odessa region.

Reporting by Iryna Nazarchuk Writing by Pavel Polityuk Editing by Frances Kerry

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