19 people were rescued, including four children. In Minsk summed up the swimming season

The results of the last swimming season were summed up in the Frunze district emergency department on October 12. In addition to the leadership of the Minsk city and district organizations OSVOD, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Oleg Korzun took part in the event, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

- During the bathing season of 2026, 19 people were rescued on the reservoirs of Minsk, including four minors, said Dmitry Matyushko, Chairman of the Minsk City Organization OSVOD. - 15 people were rescued directly by Osvod employees. In the season last year, the total number of rescued was 19 people, two of them minors, while employees rescued 16 people. Thus, the total number of rescues remained at the same level, but in 2026 there is an increase in the proportion of minors among those rescued - from two to four people. This dynamic indicates the need to further strengthen preventive work with children and adolescents, as well as intensify raiding activities in places of mass recreation near the water.

According to MnGO Osvod, during the swimming season this year in Minsk drowned 9 people, and all of them were intoxicated. During swimming, 7 people died, while fishing from the shore - 1, when falling into the water - 1.

- The greatest number of tragedies occurred in June, Matyushko emphasized. In response to the identified risks, intensified work was organized in cooperation with the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Its key areas were the identification of persons in a state of alcoholic intoxication in coastal zones, raids and explanatory measures. The set of measures taken has had a positive effect. In August-September, a significant decrease in the number of accidents was recorded. The data for the capital show an increase in the number of tragedies on the water in 2026. The number of drownings has tripled compared to 2025. The structure of the risks has also changed significantly, as deaths occurred in the area of rescue facilities, where no incidents were recorded last year. Statistics also confirm the localization of the main threats - almost half of all tragedies occurred in the Soviet district, and the most risky area for a number of years remains the area of responsibility of the Tsnyanskaya rescue station.

The analysis of the last swimming season and the omissions made by the head of the diving and rescue service of the capital Pavel Usholik.

During the bathing season, taking into account the established weather conditions, other measures were initiated in addition to the set of planned measures to ensure the safety of citizens’ rest on the water. Among them is the reduction of time intervals between rounds on water bodies, an increase in the number of joint raids on recreation areas with employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, ATC and members of the BRSM, being in coordination with the ATC on weekends at rescue stations in Minsk until 22:00, the organization of monitoring the waters from the water and bringing the necessary information to vacationers using a loudspeaker, as well as identifying persons intoxicated or drinking alcoholic beverages, bathing in prohibited places with immediate information to the internal affairs authorities. In order to comply with the requirements for labor protection and improper performance of duties and to prevent improper maintenance of official documentation, training sessions were conducted in the period from July to August.

The main drawbacks identified during the inspections of bathing facilities were the absence of a watch observer on the towers, non-implementation of foot patrols, non-compliance with time intervals during rounds on boats, as well as improper control by the heads of rescue stations, and in their absence of duty officers for the implementation of these activities by employees, and a number of others. 7 employees, 2 from rescue stations, 5 from seasonal posts were brought to disciplinary responsibility for the results of the identified omissions. In relation to 14 employees, measures of influence in the form of deprivation or reduction of the premium were taken.

O. Korzun focused on these and other shortcomings and their elimination in his speech. He demanded to install children's baths on water bodies, and also explained to the leadership of the MnGO OSVOD who and in what time should clean up vegetation, grass and algae in the coastal waters.

The work of the rescuers was multifaceted. But, despite the efforts made, they did not give the expected results, said the Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee. Nine deaths in one season is a lot. And this is not only the fault of the rescuers who did not prevent these tragedies, but also the citizens themselves. The death of a person is a great disaster for any family. Therefore, it is necessary to work as effectively as possible to prevent tragedies on the waters and even more to carry out the necessary measures in educational institutions and labor collectives. The work that is already being carried out, and this is the prospective introduction of artificial intelligence, and an increase in the number of video surveillance cameras in recreation areas, improving the equipment of rescue stations and posts with boats, all this and much more should contribute to reducing deaths on the waters.

Photo by Irina Malinovskaya