Latest news with #sea mines
Telegraph
10-08-2025
- Telegraph
Sea mine explosions kill three Ukrainian swimmers
Three Ukrainian beachgoers have been killed by sea mines while swimming off the Black Sea coast. A man died when a device exploded 50 metres from the shore near the resort of Karolino-Bugaz, in the Odesa region, at 11.30am local time on Sunday, Ukrainian media reported. A woman and another man were killed in a separate explosion in waters off the nearby town of Zatoka, around 40 miles south of Odesa city. Oleg Kiper, the regional governor, said the blasts happened in areas that had been closed off to swimmers, and warned that lives were being lost because of people ignoring the bans. 'All of them were blown up by explosive objects while swimming in areas prohibited for recreation,' he wrote. 'This proves once again that being in unverified waters is deadly.' Footage showed water shooting into the air off a busy beach with dozens of people in the water while a woman said: 'Oh God… something's exploded over there'. Local media said police and explosive technicians were investigating the incident. Police said they had not yet confirmed the identity of the swimmers, warning visitors 'not to neglect safety measures'. 'It has been previously determined that three vacationers – a woman and two men – died while swimming as a result of two explosions of unknown objects. The identities of the deceased are being established,' a police report read. Mr Kiper said there were 32 areas permitted for swimming in the Odesa region that had undergone 'comprehensive inspection' to ensure they were free of mines. Thirty are in the city of Odesa, while the other two are in Chornomorsk and Prymorske. The Black Sea is infested with mines dropped by both sides of the war in Ukraine. They are mainly deployed to defend ports, but Russia has been accused of using them to target Ukrainian shipping lanes. It is not known whether the mines involved in Sunday's incidents were Russian or Ukrainian, or how they drifted close to the beaches. Before the war, both Moscow and Kyiv were known to have stockpiles of Soviet-era YaM anchor mines, which are tethered to the seabed with a chain and float a few metres below the surface. They are typically used in waters up to 200 metres deep and contain around 20kg of explosives. Other mines found in the Black Sea since the 2022 invasion include R-421-75 contact mines, which carry up to 160kg of explosives and can be moored with a chain or deployed to drift on or just below the surface. In August last year, the Romanian
Daily Mail
10-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Woman and two men killed in sea mine explosions at beaches in Ukraine 'after bombs washed into shore'
Three people have been killed in a double explosion after sea mines washed up onto tourist beaches in Ukraine. A woman and two men lost their lives when the blasts ripped through the Black Sea resort area of Zatoka at around 11.30am today. The explosions sent shockwaves through crowds of holidaymakers at the resort in southern Ukraine. The three victims were reportedly swimming when two explosive devices went off around 50 metres from the shore. Odesa regional chief Oleh Kiper said: 'All of them have been killed by explosive devices while swimming in areas prohibited for recreation.' Police said a man and woman were killed in Zatoka, while another man died in Karolino-Buhaz. Dramatic footage taken from the scene shows a huge group of terrified sunseekers gathered on the sand in the aftermath of the blasts. Bomb dispersal experts and investigators are now reported to be searching the shoreline for more devices. Meanwhile, authorities launched a criminal case under Article 115 of the country's penal code, marking the incident as an 'accident' waiting for further findings. The explosions happened at 11.30am (9.30am BST) on Sunday between Karolino-Buhaz and Zatoka, witnesses told local outlet Dumskaya. 'This once again proves that being in unchecked waters is fatally dangerous,' the regional governor confirmed. Police said they are yet to confirm the identity of the swimmers, warning visitors 'not to neglect safety measures'. 'It has been previously determined that three vacationers - a woman and two men - died while swimming as a result of two explosions of unknown objects. The identities of the deceased are being established,' the police said. Thirty two areas are safe for swimming, with 30 of these located in Odesa, authorities said.
BBC News
10-08-2025
- BBC News
Three swimmers killed by sea mines in Odessa, Ukrainian media report
Three swimmers killed by sea mines in Odessa, Ukrainian media report Two men and one woman were killed by sea mines while swimming in Odessa, according to Ukrainian media. A local official confirmed the three had been killed by "explosive devices", at beaches close to Zatoka, where recreational swimming is banned. The Black Sea has long been a popular holiday destination in Ukraine, but many of its beaches have been deemed unsafe since Russia's full scale invasion. Officials have urged holiday goers not to swim in prohibited waters. Witnesses told local outlet Dumskaya that the explosions happened at 11:30 (09:30 BST) on Sunday between Karolino-Buhaz and Zatoka. "All of them have been killed by explosive devices while swimming in areas prohibited for recreation," regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed. "This once again proves that being in unchecked waters is fatally dangerous."Police say they have not yet confirmed the identity of the swimmers, and warned visitors "not to neglect safety measures." "It has been previously determined that three vacationers – a woman and two men – died while swimming as a result of two explosions of unknown objects. The identities of the deceased are being established," the police report two areas are safe for swimming, with 30 of these located in Odesa, according to authorities.
