At least three beachgoers have been killed after sea mines drifted towards popular tourist beaches. So far three have been confirmed dead after a horror double explosion near Zatoka beach near the Ukrainian city of Odesa in the south of the country.
The Black Sea resort had been baking in temperatures of around 30C drawing many locals and tourists to the seaside to enjoy a cooling dip in the surf. But the idyllic scene turned to disaster when two of the explosive devices detonated, wreaking destruction amongst the sunseekers.
It's not the first time beachgoers have been killed by mines on beaches around the historic city of Odesa, as brave Ukrainians try to keep some semblance of normal lives as the war rages on with Russia in the east of the country. Authorities have previously been closed in the area because of mines drifting towards the shore, but a recent closure was lifted.
Sea mines have become the preferred method used by the Russians to target Ukrainian shipping in the Black Sea after the Kremlin's navy suffered heavy losses at the start of the invasion in 2022. Ukraine has deployed mines to defend against Russian amphibious assaults and NATO allies have also been producing the destructive ordnance.
The Sun reports local news outlet Dumskaya said the victims, a woman and two men, were swimming when two explosive devices detonated around 50 metres from the shore.
Odesa regional chief Oleh Kiper confirmed: "All of them have been killed by explosive devices while swimming in areas prohibited for recreation."
Since the war began in 2022 the Black Sea around the Russian and Ukrainian coast has become a dangerous place for shipping and bathers as sea mines have been heavily deployed. There have also been a number of unexploded mortars and aerial bombs which have been recovered by Ukrainian bomb disposal experts near beaches.
Strong currents, heavy rainfall and shifting tides can force the mines to break free from their original positions leaving them to dangerous drift towards the shoreline.
European nations have rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation can't be resolved without Kyiv, ahead of an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Trump said next Friday's meeting with his Russian counterpart on US soil, which was once owned by Russia, would focus on ending the war, now in its fourth year.
In response, Ukrainian President Zelensky thanked European allies in a post on X, writing on Sunday: "The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people."
