Before the full-scale invasion, every summer millions of Ukrainians headed to the sea. Zatoka, Zheleznyi Port and Berdiansk were, for many, not just points on a map but places where childhood holidays, family vacations and long evenings by the water took place. Packed beaches, recreation bases, hotels, cafés, promenades — this infrastructure made up the familiar summer landscape of the country. The Styler project by RBC-Ukraine has published archival footage that takes viewers back to that time while simultaneously underscoring just how much the war has changed the appearance of these places.
Zatoka: a resort that remained on Ukrainian territory
Zatoka in Odesa Oblast was, until 2022, considered one of the most famous seaside resorts in Ukraine. At the height of the season, thousands of tourists came here, and the long sandy beaches of the Black Sea were filled with holidaymakers to the last free strip. Along the coast, recreation bases, hotels, cafés, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues operated. The resort was especially valued for allowing a full seaside vacation without having to travel abroad. Archival footage from Zatoka vividly shows how crowded the place was in summer: there was hardly any free space left on the beaches, and along the shore the familiar tourist life was in full swing.
At the same time, it is important to clarify the resort's status: Zatoka is not under Russian occupation and remains on territory controlled by Ukraine. However, the war has significantly changed life in the settlement. The resort has repeatedly come under Russian shelling, and due to security risks and restricted access to the sea, it can no longer function as it did before 2022. That is precisely why pre-war videos from Zatoka today contrast with modern footage: where once there were packed beaches and working infrastructure, the war has left damaged facilities and empty areas.
Zheleznyi Port: a summer cut short by occupation
Zheleznyi Port in Kherson Oblast was, before the full-scale invasion, one of the popular destinations for summer recreation. The resort attracted tourists with its sandy Black Sea beaches, affordable accommodation and a wide range of leisure venues. In summer it was crowded from early morning: cafés and shops operated on the coast, and in the evenings tourists strolled along the promenade and spent time in entertainment venues. In archival videos, Zheleznyi Port is remembered by many Ukrainians as loud, crowded and carefree in a summery way.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, the resort ended up under occupation. Zheleznyi Port is located on the left bank of Kherson Oblast, which is controlled by Russian forces. Today it is impossible to return there for an ordinary beach holiday, and pre-war recordings remain a kind of archive of what the resort was like before the Russian invasion.
Berdiansk and the Berdiansk Spit: an Azov resort under occupier control
Another popular destination was Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The city on the coast of the Sea of Azov has for many years hosted tourists from various regions of Ukraine. One of the main tourist locations was the Berdiansk Spit, where beaches, recreation bases, sanatoriums and other tourist infrastructure facilities were located. In season, Berdiansk came alive: the beaches were crowded with people, cafés and attractions operated, and the resort part of the city was filled with holidaymakers.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, Berdiansk ended up under temporary Russian occupation. Russian forces seized the city at the end of February 2022. Footage from pre-war Berdiansk today shows not just a place for a summer vacation — on it one can see a Ukrainian city as it was before the occupation.
The archive as memory: why pre-war footage matters today
The Styler publication is not just a nostalgic retro review. In a situation where two of the three resorts mentioned are under occupation and the third operates under the constant threat of shelling, archival photographs and videos become a document. They record not only the infrastructure and tourist flow but also the very fabric of everyday life that has been destroyed. For millions of Ukrainians who spent vacations in these places for decades, these frames are a way to preserve the memory of what a peaceful summer on the coasts of the Black and Azov Seas used to be.
