Signs aren't helping: residents of Mykolaiv are asking the police to monitor dangerous swimming spots

Following the death of a teenager in Mykolaiv, there are calls to patrol swimming areas. Photo: State Emergency Service

In Mykolaiv, there are proposals to step up monitoring of unauthorised swimming spots for children by involving the police, as well as to identify and inspect safe swimming areas.

This was announced by Valerii Vetrov, a representative of the Expert and Public Council attached to the Mykolaiv City Council Executive Committee, during a staff meeting chaired by the mayor on 15 June, according to NikVesti.

According to him, despite the ban on swimming and the warning signs put up, children continue to jump into the water from hydraulic structures, particularly on the Lower Embankment and in the Namyv neighbourhood.

«We have drafted a letter to the National Police and would ask for your support. We understand that there are places where children constantly gather. The authorities have put up signs; let the police monitor this. Children are always there,» said Valerii Vetrov.

In addition, he proposed designating small areas for swimming in every district of the city, which would be checked for safety beforehand.

«We understand that swimming in the city is prohibited. But we realise that the heatwave is coming and people will go to the beach anyway. But our proposal is to designate a small area in each district, provided it has been checked. So that people have a choice of where they can swim,» he said.

Also among the proposed measures is an information campaign for residents on the rules for safe recreation on the water.

The recent tragedy at Namyv was also mentioned during the meeting. On 10 June, a 17-year-old boy died whilst swimming. After jumping into the water, the teenager went missing, and his body was later recovered by divers.

Deputy Mayor Vitalii Lukov noted that most of the hydraulic structures where such incidents occur belong to the company «Ukrrichport», which is effectively in the process of being wound up.

«Even before the major intervention, we tried at the head office to at least transfer these main structures to the city’s balance sheet. But there is not even anyone there to speak to on this matter to get the process started. The organisation itself is in limbo and is not managing the assets it used to manage. And this poses major challenges for us, because there are such jetties in Korenykha too. In fact, the banks of the Southern Bug are «Ukrrichport»,» noted Vitalii Lukov.

According to him, this complicates the maintenance of such facilities.

We would like to remind you that a ban on swimming in rivers and relaxing by the water, introduced back in 2022, remains in force in Mykolaiv.