STORY: Kyiv residents sought relief from the heat along the Dnipro River on Sunday (June 28), with beaches drawing families, swimmers and cyclists despite the ongoing war.

Many said travelling abroad remained out of reach due to closed airports, costly and arduous journeys to neighbouring countries and family responsibilities.

Olena Klymenko, visiting a beach on Kyiv’s Trukhaniv Island, said she preferred taking her son to the Dnipro rather than travelling to another Ukrainian city for security reasons. She said she felt more at ease in the capital, where she knows the location of shelters, unlike in unfamiliar cities.

Temperatures in Kyiv are expected to hit 34 degrees Celsius (93°F) on Monday (June 29) as a heat wave that has swept across western and central Europe moves eastward into Ukraine.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (JUNE 28, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. YOUNG MAN SUNBATHING TOPLESS AT DNIPRO RIVER BEACH

2. FAMILY BATHING WITH TODDLER AT RIVER BEACH

3. WOMAN SWIMMING

4. CHILDREN PLAYING IN WATER

5. MANAGER, OLENA KLYMENKO, AND HER SON WALKING ALONG BEACH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) MANAGER, OLENA KLYMENKO, 53 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"For now, we can only afford to come to swimming spots, because it is difficult to go somewhere (abroad) due to the difficult road and financial difficulties. Now we are resting at the Dnipro or at our summer homes."

7. PEOPLE SUNBATHING AND SWIMMING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) MANAGER, OLENA KLYMENKO, 53 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"I know the city, wherever I am, I know where to go to the shelter and how to get around. So going to another city, where I know nothing is more stressful for me than staying in Kyiv."

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH AND BATHING IN DNIPRO RIVER

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) EMPLOYEE, NADIYA ORLOVA, 53 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"I can't leave the country since my husband is in the army, and I look after our cats. I am a cat mom. I can't leave them. I came here for two days to visit a friend for her birthday, that's the most I can do. My situation is that I have enough money, but no opportunity (LAUGHS)."

11. CHILDREN BATHING IN DNIPRO RIVER

12. RUNNERS AND CYCLISTS ON PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

13. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH SEEN FROM BRIDGE

14. PENSIONER, SVITLANA DOBRYNINA, AND HER FRIEND PUSHING BIKES UP THE BRIDGE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PENSIONER, SVITLANA DOBRYNINA, 62 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"I like that there are a lot of beautiful places in Kyiv where you can relax by the water. With or without barbecue, there are places for every taste. I like to combine water with cycling."

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STROLLING ON BRIDGE

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PENSIONER, SVITLANA DOBRYNINA, 62 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"I'm already at a certain age which means that it's hard for me to bear the journey (to go abroad), especially since there are no flights. It's really hard for me to travel by train."

18. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH SEEN FROM BRIDGE

19. BUILDINGS AT DNIPRO RIVER BANK, ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH ON HILLTOP

20. THERMOMETER SHOWING 30 DEGREES CELSIUS (86 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) / ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH