What do the occupied Ukrainian resorts look like now?

Not long ago, these places were buzzing with tourists, but today their beaches resemble scenes from a film about forgotten cities. The streets are deserted, the infrastructure is in disrepair, and instead of the hustle and bustle of a resort, silence reigns. Learn more about what the occupied Ukrainian resorts look like now

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Before the full-scale war, the coast of the Azov and Black Seas in Ukraine in the summer resembled a huge beehive: sun, laughter, the smell of roasted corn, children's voices and the sound of the surf. Today, the same places that just a few years ago competed for the title of the most popular resort look completely different. Tourist life in Ukrainian seaside resorts has come to a standstill, and the beaches have become symbols of emptiness and neglect.

Read on to find out what these once bustling spots on the map look like now.

About summer tourism in 2025, where Ukrainians are going and how they are choosing their holidays during the war — read here.

Kyrylivka

Until recently, this was the family heart of the Azov coast: warm shallow sea, numerous recreation centres, and fun walks along the promenade. Today, the area resembles a closed zone. The water is dangerous due to mines, hotels are empty, and former entertainment venues have become military facilities. Trade, which used to be bustling at every turn, has almost disappeared, and only a few local residents pass by the promenade from time to time.

Berdyansk

Berdyansk once attracted visitors from all over the country. Now there are almost no holidaymakers here, and the local beaches look as if summer has been cancelled. The infrastructure stands idle, and those who do come to the sea are mostly locals or people from neighbouring occupied towns. The atmosphere is reminiscent of early autumn, even though the calendar shows the height of summer.

Is it safe to travel in Ukraine during the war? We tell you here.

Skadovsk

The former pride of the Kherson region now looks more like a closed garrison than a resort. A significant part of the population has left, leaving mainly elderly people behind. Recreation centres and sanatoriums have been turned into barracks, and port warehouses into weapons storage facilities. The tourist season here has not just stopped — it has virtually disappeared, and there is no sign of a return to normal life.

Zalizny Port

This resort was once a symbol of youth and family recreation, with clubs, restaurants and crowded beaches. Now it is full of closed cafes, shut-down attractions and beaches cordoned off with iron barriers. Local businesses that depended on tourists are in serious decline. Only occasionally can you see a few people on the sand, and even they are in no hurry to go into the water.

Henichesk

Among the occupied resorts, Henichesk still retains some semblance of order: the buildings are not damaged, and the streets are not completely deserted. But there are no tourists here. The beaches look as if winter has lingered, and the hotels remain without guests. The city resembles a resort in the off-season, which has lasted for years.

Where to go in August? The best places to relax in Ukraine — follow the link.

Shchaslyvtse

People used to come here for peace, clean sea and picturesque sunsets. Now the coast is deserted: recreation centres are closed, and beaches without umbrellas and sun loungers seem endless. The village looks as if everyone who could leave has left, and only the sea remains unchanged.

The Ukrainian sea waiting for its people

The occupied resorts today are a symbol of how war can change everything.

The sea and the sun remain, but without freedom and security, leisure loses its meaning. Ukrainians continue to believe that Skadovsk, Berdyansk, Kyrylivka and other places will once again become accessible for travel, and laughter and noise will return to their beaches.

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While these coasts await their liberation, it is worth discovering other picturesque corners of our country.

The Visit Ukraine portal offers a variety of tours in Ukraine — from the Carpathians and majestic mountain lakes to Ukrainian cities that will make you fall in love at first sight.

Travel and support Ukrainian tourism!

Reminder! From the Carpathians to the Black Sea, Ukraine offers dozens of locations where lavender blooms as beautifully as in Provence. Where are the most beautiful lavender fields in Ukraine, how to get to a photo shoot, and when is the season — read here.

The photos used in this article were taken from public posts on social media by local residents.

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