A Resort in Ruins: Odesa Region’s Zatoka Sees Zero Tourists

Zatoka Resort’s Outlook Ahead of the 2026 Summer Season

According to Главком: As the summer of 2026 approaches, the situation in Zatoka, a resort in the Odesa region, remains dire. Swimming and recreation along the Black Sea coast are prohibited due to ongoing security threats. The area’s tourism infrastructure has suffered severe damage from Russian shelling, leaving the once-popular destination completely devoid of visitors. Before the full-scale war began, Zatoka was one of Ukraine’s most beloved seaside resorts, hosting millions of tourists each year. The summer season traditionally kicked off in late May, but in 2026, the beaches remain closed. Restrictions imposed by the Odesa Regional Military Administration continue to block any revival of tourism activity.

Infrastructure Damage

According to official data, since the start of the full-scale invasion, 56 recreation centers and public buildings in Zatoka have been damaged or destroyed. These include:

• 40 recreation centers;
• three sanatoriums;
• the Zatoka settlement council building;
• the Zatoka preschool facility;
• four shops;
• two sports and entertainment complexes;
• the Karolino-Buhaz lyceum building.

“Forty recreation centers, some hit twice. Three sanatoriums are destroyed, the Zatoka settlement council building, the Zatoka preschool. Four shops are wrecked, two sports and entertainment complexes, the Karolino-Buhaz lyceum building. That’s 56 public buildings and recreation centers in total-ones that can no longer function, they are completely shattered.”

- Andriy Apanasenko

In short, Zatoka’s resort faces an extremely difficult situation, and restoring its tourism infrastructure will require significant effort and time. With hostilities ongoing, local residents and businesses remain in limbo, hoping for an improvement in security conditions.

The critical state of Zatoka mirrors the broader collapse of Ukraine’s tourism sector, which has suffered heavy losses due to the war. Reviving a resort that once attracted millions of tourists will demand substantial investment and a stable security environment. For now, however, the absence of visitors and the ruined infrastructure pose severe challenges for the local community and businesses.

While Zatoka struggles to recover from the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict, other regions, such as Zaporizhzhia, are attempting to reinvent themselves as tourist destinations amidst the turmoil. This contrast highlights the varying approaches to tourism in wartime Ukraine. For more insights on how occupying forces are pushing to transform Zaporizhzhia into a resort area, read our detailed report here.