“We learned about the explosion when we were on the beach”

Olga from Moscow, 33 years old

We are resting with my mother in Alushta, currently 20 days, we got here thanks to a social ticket.

Our trip began on June 25th. The day before, I was on the train and caught the news about Prigozhin’s rebellion (happened on June 23-24 – Gazeta). I remember very well the conversations of people who were very worried, someone even got off the train in Voronezh and tried to go back to Moscow. I didn’t panic: in a situation where you can’t change anything, it’s better not to be nervous.

We learned the news about the night explosion on the bridge when we were on the beach, we heard from vacationers. There was no sharp desire to change everything, to return earlier. We are all adults: the situation in the country is unstable, anything can happen, we simply do not allow bad thoughts.

We are returning to Moscow tomorrow, the tour ends. The situation on the bridge that happened at night did not affect our plans in any way. Although, if I had the opportunity to stay longer, I would do it, because what Crimea gives in terms of mental, emotional, physical health is worth it.

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For all 20 days of rest, none of the local residents or tourists, no one spoke negatively about the situation in the country – they simply did not talk about this topic.

“Is it scary now in Crimea? Of course not. There is a buzz here: the sun, the sea, the pools”

Anastasia from Moscow, 38 years old

We came with the team to the Crimea on a business trip, we are shooting here. Yesterday we flew to Mineralnye Vody by plane, and then late in the evening we took a transfer to Yalta. It turned out that we drove along the Crimean bridge shortly before the explosion!

We stood in a traffic jam on the bridge for three hours, no less. We drove part of the way, part went on foot – the car followed. Then we passed the traffic police post, waited for the car, successfully reached Yalta.

We learned about the explosion three hours later, when we had already reached the hotel. The driver told about the tragedy: “We were lucky, we flew over!”

Is it scary now in Crimea? Of course not. There is a buzz here: the sun, the sea, the pools, all the people are positive, absolutely. We are all calm. Yes, we were a little scared, but now everything is fine. Part of our film crew is leaving tomorrow evening, we don’t know yet how we will get there. The second one returns to Moscow by train on July 20. It is not very clear how everything will work, but we believe in the best.

“Let’s go back – I’ll be nervous when crossing the bridge”

Irina from Kaliningrad, 41 years old

We have been in Yalta with my husband and children since July 13th. We went here, as the spouse was given a ticket to the sanatorium. We are returning home by train in a couple of weeks.

The events of tonight are not the most pleasant, but I will not say that I was scared. Our condolences to the girl whose parents died. Let’s go back – I’ll probably be nervous when crossing the bridge. But in general, I try not to react strongly emotionally, first of all, so as not to scare the children.

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The car in which the family from Belgorod region during the explosion on the Crimean bridge, July 17, 2023

Telegram channel SHOT

We are in Crimea for the second time. We were here for the first time more than ten years ago, when the peninsula was part of Ukraine. Then they traveled by car, lived in the private sector. Of course, without much comfort. If we compare these two holidays, I can say that the quality of the roads has definitely improved. Prices have dropped, especially for souvenirs. This year we went to the Crimea because of the sanatorium. But here, according to personal observations, it is better than in other resorts – in the same Sochi, for example. Everything is expensive there. Here prices are lower for food, entertainment and souvenirs.

“An acquaintance, having learned about what happened at night, rushed to the gas station to fill up a full tank of gasoline”

Tatyana from Moscow, 32 years old

It has been a week in Crimea . Here friends, relatives, real estate. In general, everything is relatively calm. People who were relaxed, remained so. There is a share of alarmists: something will fly by, they begin to worry a lot. For example, today an acquaintance, when he found out what happened at night, rushed to the gas station to fill up a full tank, because he was afraid of problems with gasoline in the future.

I’m a little annoyed by the large amount of military equipment in Crimea: it’s rather unpleasant when you’re lying on the beach and a military plane is flying low over you.

We plan to return next week, it’s not yet clear how. There is an option to get there by ferry or through new territories – Mariupol and Melitopol. It is unpleasant that the bridge is destroyed in both directions.

They write from Moscow, asking how we are here, but relatives are trying not to escalate. In any case, everything will be fine. In such situations, we quickly resolve everything.

“We will not fuss, but we keep our finger on the pulse”

Igor from Moscow, born in Simferopol, 37 years old

I was born in Simferopol, now I live in Moscow. He came to Crimea to visit his relatives. I have been here with my wife and children since July 11th. In general, the vacation is going well, I noticed that prices and fruits have risen, as if less than it was the year before last.

I’m going to return home by car. I will follow the news about the Crimean bridge – will it open or not. And there, according to the circumstances – by ferry or through new territories.

What emotions do I feel about what happened? Yes, it’s unpleasant, but as a local resident I’ll say: the first time the bridge was blown up, everyone was scared, the second time everyone seemed to react more calmly – we passed, we know, we won’t fuss, but we keep our finger on the pulse.

“If the bridge is not repaired, we will continue to rest in the Crimea”

Anna from Novosibirsk, 36 years old

My husband and children in Crimea for two weeks, we planned more stay for two. We are traveling by car. We left Novosibirsk in June, and like this we traveled to different places: we were in Dagestan, on Elbrus, then we came here.

I was not afraid to come to Crimea. Everything suits me. It is very convenient to travel by car: we choose different cities, hotels. Very comfortable. We also traveled in 2019 and 2021.

We return back by car. We haven’t thought about how it will happen yet. We hope that the bridge will be repaired. If they don’t fix it, we will continue to rest in the Crimea – there is still August ahead.

My husband told me about what had happened in the morning. I was shocked… Very upset that people died. Even if I were in Novosibirsk, this news would upset me. And when you’re here, it’s all the more scary.