Tourists Weigh In on Gelendzhik Holidays Amid Sirens

Attacks on Black Sea coastal towns have intensified this year, especially since the start of the resort season. Air raid sirens sound regularly in Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, and Sochi, where air defense systems are active (as they are in smaller villages too). During threats, some beaches are closed and people are asked to leave the shore. But despite all the fears, Russians continue to travel for holidays.

In August, the whole country was shaken by the tragedy in Arkhipo-Osipovka, where seven people, including four children, died during a drone attack. Dozens of tourists were injured — all of them had come on holiday.

On social media, people from all over the country are sharing news about the situation in Gelendzhik and nearby resorts. After all, that is where sirens have been sounding especially often lately. The portal 93.RU collected people«s opinions — here is what they think about vacations in August 2026.

Sirens blare morning, noon, and night

There are many comments saying that towns on the Black Sea coast are now very frightening. It is especially alarming for families with children — on some days the siren sounds almost around the clock, and people hear explosions. That is why tourists advise thinking carefully before going on holiday.

— I was in Divnomorskoye with children, we arrived on 1 August, were supposed to leave on the 15th, but left on the 7th. It simply became frightening to be there. Air defense is working in Gelendzhik and Kabardinka. Sirens blare morning, noon, and night. The situation is very tense. For me personally, this is not a holiday, I don«t know about others. People swim under the wail of sirens, drink, and relax. On the eve of our departure, on the 6th, from 01:38 sirens wailed, explosions, nonstop until 5–6 in the morning. Somewhere over our guesthouse a drone flew by, it was being shot down. Then it went quiet, the drone threat was lifted. And a couple of hours later it started again.

— Sometimes they don«t let you onto the beaches, the sirens wail less, but this is no joke, have they really not understood even after the incident in Arkhipo-Osipovka that the special military operation is ongoing and strikes happen everywhere. Stay home. There is gasoline, but not everywhere, and there are queues at gas stations.

— The air defense system works very loudly and often. And it«s not like »a plane flew by«, it»s many times louder. All of this happens before your eyes. We had never seen or heard anything like it before, so yes, it«s frightening. Beaches are closed while the threat is announced, rescuers, sometimes police officers, ask people to leave the beach. Afterwards, to be honest, it»s no longer so comfortable to go back. Some leave without waiting for their booking to end, especially those with little kids. There is no guarantee of safety. As, incidentally, everywhere now.

— A friend was holidaying in the last week before August, sirens went off twice. We arrived on 3 August, and there was not a single calm day. I can«t say I regret it, since there»s sea and sun every day, and in our city there«s been no summer at all this year.

— In one week there was the tragedy in Arkhipo-Osipovka, then rockets in the sky, then very strong explosions at Blue Abyss, then a forest fire, we had to stop swimming. But today«s realities are such that the choice is yours.

— We arrived in Gelendzhik on 1 August, two days of silence. And that was it, the holiday really ended there. Sirens morning, noon, and night. One night we simply didn«t sleep.

— It really is a matter of luck. Maybe it will be quiet. But a person must understand the realities of today. We have already left. And the sea is wonderful, warm, calm.

— The situation: better not to go and not to waste time, nerves, and money. We are heading back home, we cut our holiday short because of the unsettled situation. Today the beaches were even closed.

You can be killed at home too. People want a holiday

But there are also those who are still determined to holiday. Some admit they were lucky with their dates because there were almost no sirens during their vacation. Others believe the main thing is sun, sea, and beach. And it is dangerous everywhere now:

— We holidayed from 19 to 31 July. There were SMS about drones, but all was quiet. We walked, swam. We didn«t hear sirens. We were simply lucky.

— Two weeks ago we came back from there, a beautiful city! We were lucky, 10 days of holiday and silence. In 10 days the sirens went off twice for about 15 minutes each. There were no explosions.

— Sirens wail everywhere like that — in every city every day. You can be killed at home too. People want a holiday.

— We recently returned from Gelendzhik, and everything was fine. Nowhere is safe now. During our whole holiday the siren went off only twice.

— We stayed there from 1 to 7 August. The beach was closed in the evening of the 3rd and on the 7th. We heard sirens morning, noon, and night. No one can say what will happen next.

— How lucky we were to go at the end of June. In 10 days there was one siren for less than a minute. And once we heard some bangs far away. That«s all, otherwise it was quiet and calm.

— The situation comes and goes. You can come, but there are caveats. Yes, bring gasoline with you; if you drive from the Krasnodar side through Novorossiysk in the morning, there was plenty along the way, but in the city itself there are problems right away. Aircraft fly constantly, people are asked to leave the beach. We«re going from here to Inal.