Beaches officially opened for swimming in Ukraine’s largest port city of Odesa for the first time since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, local officials announced Saturday. Why Putin is targeting cultural and historic sites in Odesa But while Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said it was the administration’s responsibility “to prepare all the necessary infrastructure,” he added, “In my personal opinion, beach vacations - as recreation - are a bit out of time while our defenders are fighting for every meter of Ukrainian land. But safety is a top priority,” Svitlana, a resident of the Odesa region, told Reuters