Man is blown up yards from Odesa beach while taking a dip off Ukraine’s mine-filled coast

A man swimming in the sea off an Odesa beach in Ukraine has been blown up in front of his family by an apparent mine.

Footage shared by Odesa Region Police shows the sudden blast yards from the shore, scattering the 50-year-old’s body parts across the beach as his distressed wife, son and friend watched on.

While it is not yet clear what caused the explosion, swimming in the area is banned because of mines planted amid the ongoing Russia war.

A man swimming in the sea off an Odesa beach in Ukraine has been blown up in front of his family by an apparent mine

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The video shows people running on the beach towards the water when the explosion occurs, stopping them in their tracks.

The man, who has not been named, washed up on the shore as police arrived on the scene. 

The victim’s friend had been swimming with him at the time but was uninjured in the blast. 

The Odesa Region Police said in a statement on Saturday: ‘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.

The man, who has not been named, washed up on the shore as police arrived on the scene

The video shows people running on the beach towards the water when the explosion occurs, stopping them in their tracks

‘Today, the neglect of safety rules by a family from Donetsk region has led to tragic consequences. 

‘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.

‘Now there is an investigative task force of the territorial unit of police and explosives. 

‘Once again, a strict ban on visiting the coast and swimming in the sea are security measures that are life-threatening if neglected.’

Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately mining the Black Sea, while Kremlin forces say they were laid by Kyiv

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Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately mining the Black Sea, while Kremlin forces say they were laid by Kyiv. 

The blockade of Ukraine’s ports is impacting the global food crisis, fuelling soaring prices around the world.

Maximilian Hess, central Asia fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told CNBC: ‘The biggest impediment to the grain exports is clearly the Russian blockades, and that includes the mines.

‘The real issue going forward is that Russia seems intent on using this as an instrument of leverage.’

Ukraine accuses Russia of using the naval mines as ‘uncontrolled drifting ammunition’ to purposely disrupt shipping and food supplies.