Ukraine's Odesa opens a few beaches for the first time since Russian invasion
Several beaches in Ukraine's Black Sea city of Odesa have officially opened for swimming for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, although bathing is banned during air raid alerts, local officials said on Saturday, Reuters reports.
Odesa, Ukraine's largest port and naval base, was repeatedly attacked with missiles and drones and the sea was littered with hundreds of sea mines following the invasion in February last year.
For the safety of residents and after incidents of mines exploding on beaches, the coast was closed.
The decision to open the beaches was made jointly by the city's civilian and military administrations, Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram messaging app.
He said the beaches would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The opening of the beaches has been a welcome respite from the war for people swimming and sunbathing.
