Beach amidst war in Ukraine

For Ukrainians living under the constant threat of war, common peacetime pleasures, like summer vacations, are irresistible.

That's why thousands of people dare to risk and expose themselves to Russian attacks while visiting Odessa, the coastal city on the Black Sea.

The city has been hit by Russian drones, but Ukrainian visitors believe the dangers are no greater than those they face at home.

"We are from Kharkiv, we are used to this situation," a young tourist told Current Time television.

"We get hit every day, we knew it could be dangerous, but we need a break."

Others agree that the stress of war only increases, so they need to take their minds off the situation – especially parents with young children.

"It's the first time we've been here since 2022. The children need a break. There's a war, but their childhood won't last forever. They need to have happy moments," said a father.

Odessa's beaches are crowded with vacationers and local vendors offering balkava, boiled corn and Black Sea shrimp.

Hotels within the historic center of the city of Odessa, an area protected by UNESCO, are in high demand.

A hotel manager, Iryna, said that last year they recorded a record number of visitors to the city, and this year's figure could be even higher.

But there are also rules to protect guests from possible air attacks.

"First, you should not ignore siren alarms. Second, you should always know where the shelters are. These actions save lives," said Iryna.

"And third, you are friendly and happy, as people in Odessa have always been."

Many hotels have built their own shelters, in addition to public centers installed on the city's beaches, where vacationers can go in the event of an alarm.

Emergency workers are constantly engaged in searching for mines, according to Marina Lozovenko, a city official.

"Before the season starts, divers search the area, in the sea and on the sand," she said. "Every month they do inspections. We don't know what the enemy might have thrown at us."

On July 19, a major Russian attack was reported in Odessa, killing one person and setting fire to multiple residential buildings. Burnt-out cars are still visible in the streets.

A resident who lives nearby has described the change the city undergoes from hour to hour.

"This year, Odessa turns into Monaco during the day and Afghanistan at night," she said.

"I don't understand why people come. They see that we are hit every night and every day. But they keep coming. The beaches are full."

However, others in the tourism industry see the large influx as a natural symptom of Ukrainians' deep war fatigue.

Iryna, a hotel manager, believes that people are tired of feeling afraid.

"The psychological pressure is intolerable. We have to keep living. What else can we do?" /REL (A2 Televizion)