The shelters in Odessa's "Fairy Tale Tunnel" were not repaired during the season

In the underground “Fairy Tale Tunnel” near Dolphin Beach in Odesa, which is being used as a shelter, there are still no signs of proper setup.

AnIntentacorrespondent visited the shelter to check whether anything had changed over the summer season.

New photos show the dilapidated condition of the premises, with old chairs, exposed wires, damage, and dark sections of the tunnel.

A sign at the entrance indicates that this location is designated as a shelter. Inside is a long underground corridor with decorative murals on the walls; however, the conditions for people to stay there remain minimal.

Problems with the infrastructure are particularly noticeable: there are sagging and exposed wires in the tunnel, and some areas appear to be unlit. Only a few old chairs have been set up for visitors.

Intent had already drawn attention to the condition of this shelter back in June. At that time, journalists reported that the tunnel was open but remained neglected: the lights didn’t work, there were no light bulbs, and conditions for a comfortable wait during an attack had not been established.

Earlier,Oleg Kipper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, stated that 27 swimming spots are open in Odesa. Among them, he mentioned: Velykofontansky, Delfin, Kaleton, the “Without Limits” Inclusive Beach, Langeron, Arcadia, Kurortny, Municipal (10th Station of Velykyi Fontan), Zolotyi Bereg, “For People with Disabilities,” and Chaika.

 In May, the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, Oleg Kipper, signedan orderto inspect the region’s beaches ahead of the upcoming tourist season. At that time, the head of the Regional State Administration stated that more beaches are planned to open this year than last year. 

The “Fairy-Tale Tunnel” is an underground corridor approximately 200 meters long, located at a depth of about 20 meters. It was built between 1976 and 1979 to connect the “Magnolia” sanatorium with “Dolphin” Beach. The tunnel got its name from the mosaics featuring ornaments and characters from Alexander Pushkin’s fairy tales. In 2014, it was closed to visitors, and in the summer of 2024, it was reopened as a shelter.

Андрій Колісніченко