Summer is a time of vacations. Train from Kiev to Berdyansk is driving me to the sea. A woman with her grandchild is sitting next to me. I ask her if she is afraid to go to the place less than 100 meters away from the front line. She looks at me with amazement and answers: “Our Ukrainian boys are there, they will protect us”.

People can get to Berdyansk on a train from Sumy, Zaporozhie, Krivoy Rog, Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov. Berdyansk railway station meets with hubbub and a number of housing offers in “two steps from the sea”.

Prices for accommodation in Berdyansk are different – from 30 UAH per a person in private sector to luxury apartments in “Bristol” hotel for 1500 UAH. Prices for accommodation on Berdyansk spit also vary from 50 UAH per a person to chic cottages for 1700 UAH.

If you will choose Berdyansk you will have a range of entertainments: aqua park, dolphinarium, zoo, amusement park and several night clubs.

Aqua park costs 165-295 UAH for a day of entertainment, depending on time when you come, ticket for children (younger than 12 years old) – 125-260 UAH. Dancing and foam parties take place in aqua park after 7 PM and cost 55 UAH.

Dolphins and seals show in Berdyansk dolphinarium cost 200 UAH.

A visit to Berdyansk zoo costs 100 UAH for adults and 80 UAH – for kids, 10 UAH – for a package of food for animals.

There are a lot of ride in amusement park, cotton candy and salt wind from the sea…

You can find any food in Berdyansk – fast-food and different rolls, expensive restaurants ant etc. I had a dinner in private sector for 50 UAH.

There are also servicemen in uniform, but there are not so many of them. People got used to camouflage, but numerous adverts with offers to visit Moscow or Belgorod are very annoying.

There is no war in Berdyansk, it is calm here and sunny, it is just a resort with entertainment for any taste.

Next bus takes me to next destination – Urzuf.

There is a block post on the border of Zaporozhie and Donetsk regions, but it is not military, only traffic police: they don’t check passengers, only a driver with documents goes to show his documents and one of inspectors hides in the shadow of the bus trying to fasten his flak jacket on his pretty big belly.

Urzuf. It is 70 km away from the front line.

A base of “Azov” battalion is here that is why there are much more people in uniform and military equipment.

There were not many people on the beach, but maybe it was because of bad weather. Local residents assure that there are many tourists this year.

Prices for housing in Urzuf are 50-1000 UAH.

There are same entertainment places on the coast. Amusement park is situated at the center of Urzuf. There are several night clubs, and the most pleasant one was “Mohito” bar.

Shirokino, Novoazovsk and Sedovo left resort business this year… But Priazovie awaits for its tourists despite closeness to the front line …

Vladimir Mestina for the Informator.lg.ua