Martial law has changed our lives, but the summer has not been cancelled. And many would like to relax by the reservoirs – is there such an opportunity?
Without the sea, but not without rest
Rest on the beaches of the Sea of Azov and in the Crimea is still on pause for us, because the occupiers have not yet been expelled from there. But on the Black Sea coast in the Odessa region, rest is theoretically possible, but not everywhere. According to the head of the Joint Coordinating Press Center of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, Natalia Gumenyuk, due to the mine danger, there will most likely not be a beach holiday in Odessa this year. However, on May 24, the Odessa Regional Military Administration (RVA) reported on the upcoming possible partial access of vacationers to the sea coast from Lanzheron to the 16th station of the Big Fountain.
“The head of the Odessa RVA and the commander of the Danube Operational Group of Forces (OGV) issued a joint order to carry out measures to prepare for partial access to sections of the Black Sea coast within the city of Odessa under the legal regime of martial law,” the statement said.
“Access to separate beach areas with the possibility of swimming in the sea will be provided after the implementation of a set of security measures. Compliance with the conditions of the order will be checked by a special commission of the city council. And by June 5, the relevant acts will be provided to the Regional Military Administration (OVA). The final decision will be made by the head Odesa OVA and OSUV “Odessa”, according to it, changes will be made to the previous last year’s order on the work of the beaches,” said the head of the Odessa RVA, Yuriy Kruk.
By the way, nets have already been stretched in Odessa between traverses (regulation structures in the form of transverse dams) on the beach between the 13th and 14th stations of the Big Fountain. At the entrance to the beach there is an information stand with the rules of conduct on the coast. In particular, it is said that it is forbidden to be there during the air raid and from 21.00 to 07.00 daily. And you can swim only in a specially equipped area, the border of which is marked with buoys.
In general, whether the beach season will be opened in Odessa this year, even with great restrictions, is still unknown. Everything will become clear only after June 5th. Meanwhile, we recall that on May 2, in the Odessa region, a storm brought an anti-ship mine to the coastal zone, which the military managed to destroy. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The chances that in the Odessa region it will be allowed to relax by the sea and swim are less than in the regional center. The question is also still open, but, as the mayor of Chernomorsk Vasily Gulyaev explains, the corresponding ban was imposed by the military due to the fact that there are no breakwaters on the city’s beaches, with which it would be possible to stretch the protective nets. And this means that at any moment a mine can drive to the shore. The situation is similar in other settlements of the region. But still, there is no final decision yet.
In many cities located on the banks of the Dnieper, this summer the opening of the beach season is either already prohibited, or a decision has not yet been made. For example, in Kiev, where there are 14 official recreation areas on the Dnieper alone, the city council has already issued its verdict not to open the beaches this year, since there are no equipped shelters or bomb shelters located nearby.
According to the head of the Nikolaev OVA Vitaly Kim, in the Nikolaev region, absolutely all beaches will be closed due to mine danger, but it will be allowed to relax near small inland water bodies – on the banks of lakes and rivers.
The situation in the Dnieper has not yet been clarified. And in the Kharkiv region, 7 beaches have been identified where people could relax. However, the issue of the start of the beach season is being delayed. And there is no guarantee, given the enemy shelling of the area, that it will be resolved positively.
We froze in anticipation of the beginning of the beach season in Khmelnitsky and Cherkassy, where public utilities are actively sifting sand on the beaches, updating umbrellas and sunbeds. But officials have not yet given a go-ahead about the start of the season.
In view of the current realities, tour operators believe that the best vacation this year by the reservoirs will be a trip to the Shatsk Lakes or the Carpathians, where mountains, rivers and clean, healthy air will help overcome fatigue. A well-equipped tourist infrastructure will create comfort and coziness.
Cautions for vacationers
On the eve of the summer season, the State Tourism Development Agency updated the safety rules for traveling in Ukraine, provided by the military-civilian and regional administrations. They should be taken into account by those who are going to rest near their home, and who travel to another region.
This year, rafting, hiking, walking and excursions on routes near critical infrastructure, military and strategic facilities have been banned throughout the country. Tourist points close to the borders with Belarus and Russia are also not available. Restrictions apply to visiting some mountain routes, reservoirs, forests in different areas. And rest in the east and south of Ukraine, especially in frontline zones, is dangerous because of active hostilities. In general, you should refrain from traveling to territories that were under occupation.
In many areas, it is forbidden to visit forests. You can not rest in the forests of the Kiev region, Cherkasy, Vinnitsa, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk and Kirovograd regions. On the territory of the Zhytomyr region, the collection of berries, mushrooms and medicinal plants is allowed in all forests, except for territories located 20 km from the line of the state border of Ukraine with Belarus and temporarily occupied areas. It is also forbidden to visit the reserves of the region.
In addition, in the Lviv region, you can go to the forest, but it is forbidden to enter it by transport. The only exceptions are cases where a transit route or cycle route runs through forest areas. Fires may only be lit in designated areas. In Transcarpathia, you can go to the forest, but some routes are closed for visiting. In particular, we are talking about part of the Uzhansky National Park and the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, near the borders with other states. In particular, the “Pop Ivan” mountain and the “Yalinsky” waterfall, which are located on the territory of the Tribushansky environmental research department, are closed to visitors. Flying on single-engine aircraft is also prohibited.
Galina Girak
