Odesa in summer 2026: Life between sea and war. VIDEO

Beaches, bomb-damaged homes and explosions in broad daylight. In the summer of 2026, Odesa is caught between its traditional seaside resort atmosphere and the constant threat of Russian attacks. While some people relax by the sea and stroll through the city centre, others sift through the rubble left by the latest strike.

JAMnews visited Odesa to show what life in the city looks like today.

Odesa and the surrounding region remain frequent targets of Russian strikes. Residential neighbourhoods, critical infrastructure and port facilities have all come under attack.

Russia has carried out combined attacks using drones and missiles, seeking to overwhelm Ukraine‘s air defence systems.

The impact of these attacks is visible across the city. Residential buildings have been damaged, windows blown out and flats destroyed. Strikes have also hit Odesa’s historic centre, including heritage buildings and universities.

Ports in Odesa Region, along with the logistics hubs and warehouses that support them, are also regularly targeted. Attacks on port infrastructure have disrupted Ukraine’s transport network and Black Sea export routes.

The strikes often occur in broad daylight, when the streets are busy, cafés and shops are open, and beaches are filled with residents and visitors. At any moment, the familiar sounds of the city can be interrupted by explosions, air defence fire or the buzz of attack drones.

On several occasions, missiles have been intercepted directly over the coastline while beaches were crowded with people.

Today, it is possible to spend the day at the beach and the night in a bomb shelter.