Odessa, the « Pearl of the Black Sea, » beloved by both Russians and Ukrainians, was not long ago the largest seaside resort in the region. Today, the mythical city of the Duke of Richelieu is but a shadow of its former self. As three-quarters of the population have left Odessa, the idleness of summer has been replaced by the terrifying sound of anti-bombardment sirens. (For Libération)