Horrifying moment two men are blown up and others injured in mine blast while taking a dip at Odesa beach despite warnings not to swim off Ukraine’s coast
- Terrifying CCTV footage shows the moment two men were reportedly killed
- Authorities in Black Sea port city Odesa have warned residents not to swim
- They stated: ‘Do not swim in the mined sea’, with bombs placed under the sand
- It’s thought thousands of landmines have been placed across Ukraine by Russia
This is the horror moment two men dipping their toes in the water at a beach in Odesa, Ukraine were reportedly killed when a mine detonated under them.
Two more beachgoers were injured in the explosion at the Black Sea coastal town, according to a Telegram channel which shared the CCTV footage yesterday.
Xydessa wrote: ‘A mine explosion occurred today, as a result of which two people died and two were injured.’
Odesa authorities urged residents not to swim in the waters by the war-torn port city – and even closed the beaches this summer, fearing Russian airstrikes on crowds.
Terrifying footage shows the seconds between the group dipping their toes into the water (left) and the explosion of the under-water landmine at the Odesa beach yesterday (right)
It follows the detonation of another landmine at an Odesa beach in June, which killed a father in front of his horrified family.
The 50-year-old man from Donetsk was killed instantly after stepping on the mine.
Regional authorities warned: ‘Police urge residents and guests of Odesa region to strictly follow the rules of martial law. Do not go to the coastal protection zone of the Black Sea, do not swim in the mined sea.
‘While swimming in the sea in one of the villages of Odesa district, an explosion of an unknown object killed a 50-year-old man in front of his wife, son and friend. The latter miraculously did not suffer, because he went swimming with the victim.
It’s estimated that two men were killed in the explosion (aftermath pictured) and two injured
‘Once again, a strict ban on visiting the coast and swimming in the sea are security measures that are life-threatening if neglected.’
Human Rights Watch estimates thousands of Russian landmines have been laid in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in late February, particularly population centres Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and the Donbas.
Some are activated by contact, with others detonating at random intervals, posing a significant threat to civilians.
That’s despite Ukraine being party to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty – though Russia did not sign the agreement.
The Biden administration last week announced an $89million (£74million) funding package to clear Ukraine of landmines, having vowed to tackle their ‘devastating impact’ in June.
That will pay for 100 de-mining teams in the country over the next year in addition to training Ukrainians on how to safely dispose of the deadly devices.
An official said: ‘As Russian forces retreated from Northern Ukraine, they had booby traps and improvised explosive devices in food facilities, car trunks, washing machines, doorways, hospital beds and even the bodies of those killed by the invasion.
‘We expect this to be one of the largest land mine and unexploded ordnance challenges in decades.’
Ukraine has accused Russia of using the naval mines as ‘uncontrolled drifting ammunition’ to purposely disrupt shipping and food supplies.
A Russian diplomat told the UN General Assembly in 2020 that Moscow ‘shares the goals of the treaty and supports a world free of mines’, but views them as ‘an effective way of ensuring the security of Russia’s borders’.
Russia has accused Ukraine of placing landmines in its own towns and cities, an allegation Human Rights Watch found ‘no credible information’ to support.
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