Rescuers resume search for boy who disappeared in Chornomorsk in summer

Divers of the State Emergency Service have returned to search for Igor Andreiko, who disappeared from the beach in Chornomorsk, Odesa region, on July 28 during a storm.

This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Odesa Oblast.

The search was interrupted on October 21 because divers were transferred to search for a fisherman who disappeared on October 20 in the village of Kholodna Balka in the waters of the Khadzhibey Estuary. The fisherman is still being searched for.

As of October 21, rescuers have surveyed 3 million 638.4 square meters of seabed and 1,307 kilometers of coastline. They plan to resume the search as soon as they finish looking for the fisherman. Meanwhile, police continue to search for the boy.

On July 28, there was a storm in Chornomorsk, but people continued to swim, and Ihor Andreyko disappeared, and two people died on the beach that day. The mayor of Chornomorsk, Vasyl Gulyayev, said at the time that rescuers pulled 50 people out of the water that day, including 10 children.

Rescuers began searching for the boy on July 29. Due to the weather conditions - strong winds and large waves - it was impossible for the diving department to conduct search operations on July 28. Therefore, the search began in the morning. However, the boy's body was not found.

On August 15, Igor Andriyko's father announced his intention to go on a hunger strike near the local police station. He positioned the hunger strike as a protest against the inaction of the police of Chornomorsk and Odesa region and local authorities, accusing them of saying that only divers of the State Emergency Service were looking for the boy. The man said that he would perceive all attempts to prevent him as an attempt by local authorities to hide their negligence in ensuring the safety of vacationers on the beaches, as well as by the police to hide their inaction in the search.

Кирило Бойко