The number of Russians vacationing in Crimea, the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula occupied by Moscow, has fallen by nearly half in recent weeks following attacks carried out by Kyiv.

Hotel bookings fell 45 percent in the second half of July compared with the first two weeks of the month, Russian daily Kommersant reported, citing representatives of the tourism industry. Hotel occupancy is now hovering around 50-60 percent, experts said.

Ukraine on July 16 damaged the bridge connecting Russia with Crimea for the second time in nine months. With commercial air transport to Crimea from Russia halted amid the war in Ukraine, the 19-kilometer bridge had become the main way for Russian tourists to arrive on the peninsula.

Days after the bridge was struck, reportedly by naval drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the transport link must be “neutralized.”

Ukraine has also struck Russian assets on Crimea several times in recent weeks, including destroying an ammunition depot and bombing an air base.

Crimea’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism, especially during the three summer months, with thousands of jobs at stake.

Crimean hotels have slashed prices by as much as a quarter to attract more tourists. However, they may have little impact, as Kyiv perfects its drone capabilities and steps up attacks on the peninsula and Russian territory.

Ukraine has struck two Russian ships in the Black Sea over the past several days with naval drones while also hitting military targets in Crimea with unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.

Russian troops seized Crimea in February 2014 with President Vladimir Putin annexing it the following month. Only a few countries in the world recognize the annexation.

53 points

Imagine vacationing in an occupied land your country has invaded…

permalink
report
reply
16 points

Vacationsraum

permalink
report
parent
reply
8 points

For Crimea, it makes a bit more sense. It was a popular vacation spot in the Soviet Era. Just… maybe a bit less right now given that it’s an active war zone?

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

it got probably really cheap on the other hand

permalink
report
parent
reply
12 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points

Right? What kinda holiday advert propaganda are they running there I am curious.

permalink
report
parent
reply
41 points

the surprising part is that it only fell 45%

permalink
report
reply
10 points

I thought the same thing, but I’m guessing that the people “vacationing” there before were probably already pretty hardcore Putin supporters, so it makes sense only half of them are dissuaded by the bridge getting blown.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points
Removed by mod
permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

Well don’t forget all those soldiers are also just vacationing.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

Vacationing and planting sunflowers!

permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points
Removed by mod
permalink
report
parent
reply
15 points

Crazy they were in a war zone at all, but I’m glad it’s decreased. I guess Russians don’t have many options for places to vacation to now.

permalink
report
reply
10 points

War torn, bombed out, Ukrainian territory… Still better than anywhere in Russia to vacation.

permalink
report
reply
9 points

it blows my mind that russian tourists would still be casually taking vacations to a warzone? I mean I DO understand how their perception of the “conflict” is different than reality, but to GO into disputed areas that have absolutely seen action in the last year.

permalink
report
reply

Ukraine

!ukraine@sopuli.xyz

Create post

News and discussion related to Ukraine

*Sympathy for enemy combatants is prohibited.

*No content depicting extreme violence or gore.

*Posts containing combat footage should include [Combat] in title

*Combat videos containing any footage of a visible human must be flagged NSFW


Donate to support Ukraine’s Defense

Donate to support Humanitarian Aid


Community stats

  • 4K

    Monthly active users

  • 8.6K

    Posts

  • 29K

    Comments