How does Mariupol live a year after the outbreak of hostilities and almost complete destruction? Who seeks to buy real estate there, and why are the locals in “suspense”?
Mariupol is now tells Air Force, plays the role of a kind of showcase. New residential buildings are widely advertised, and dozens of Russians are already in the process of choosing and buying a “house by the sea.” Property search ads in Mariupol appear on the Russian social network VKontakte.
Approximately 90% of the city’s buildings were damaged or destroyed in the grueling two-month siege. According to the UN, thousands of civilians were killed, about 350,000 people left the city – before the war, its population was 430,000 people.
Now the authorities intend to “Russify” Mariupol by changing Ukrainian-language road signs to Russian, introducing a Russian curriculum in schools, and pushing the remaining residents to obtain Russian passports.
However, while new construction continues, extensive destruction remains and the remaining pre-war residents fear an uncertain future. Satellite images and analysis by the Air Force show that the extent of the destruction in the city is still enormous. In parts of the city center, most buildings can still be seen without roofs.
While new buildings are being built, many apartment buildings have been demolished after being deemed beyond repair. These include a whole microdistrict with an area of about 315,000 sq. m in the eastern part of the city, according to satellite data, is another part of Mariupol, significantly affected by the hostilities.
Many people interviewed by the BBC journalists wished not to give their real name, indicating a fictitious one. For example Vladimir from Russian Murmansk. He says:
“I found real estate. Mariupol will be a beautiful city. The main thing is that it is on the sea.
He is one of dozens of Russian citizens who have been looking for real estate in the seaside Mariupol using VKontakte. Vladimir has already sold his apartment in his native Murmansk and will soon move with his family to his house in Mariupol. He noted that he hurried to buy real estate, as prices for it are now very low.
According to the BBC, Russian state television constantly reports on the reconstruction of Mariupol at a “record” speed and the return of the city’s life to normal, as the state channel Rossiya 1 says, for example:
“In place of the ruins, now there are new residential buildings, kindergartens, schools – everything is being restored using the most modern technologies.”
Satellite images analyzed by the BBC show that indeed, over the past year, several high-rise buildings have appeared throughout the city, mainly on the outskirts, for example, the Nevsky residential complex, the city’s main new building on the northwestern outskirts of the city. True, the prices for apartments there are not affordable for everyone.
However, Alexander, an employee of the large city metallurgical plant Azovstal, who remained in the city, calls what is shown on television “nonsense”. He estimates that only 10% of homes damaged by the fighting have been rebuilt. And in place of others – emptiness:
“Here they demolished an apartment building, and now there is just a hole in the ground, the foundation is not being laid, nothing is being done.”
Those whose houses have been demolished can apply for an apartment in residential complexes under construction. But many locals report that the process is agonizingly slow and there are many restrictions in practice, leaving the new buildings half empty. Svetlana (name changed), who now lives abroad, says that her grandmother has been waiting for many months for an apartment to replace the one she lost when her house was demolished:
“People are put on some kind of waiting list, and they don’t know where to get an apartment.”
And Alexander claims: “Apartments are given out very economically and very selectively to people who clearly adhere to pro-Russian views.”
The most common reason for refusal is the presence of property other than the demolished apartment – even a land plot, a country house or a small share in the apartment. Anna, whose house was demolished, told local television channel Mariupol 24 that she was denied a replacement apartment because she owns an 8-square-meter barn in a village 40 km from the city.
The Russians interviewed by the BBC did not appear to be intimidated by the extent of the devastation in the city and reports of problems residents are facing on the ground.
“Of course, Ukraine destroyed the city,” says Vladimir, ignoring the fact that it was Russia who invaded Ukraine and caused massive destruction. “Russia will raise the city from the ground… and it will be even better than as part of Ukraine.”
Oksana from Tatarstan, who has several children, “always dreamed of living by the sea.” True, she expressed concern about the prospect of the return of Ukrainians.
According to the deputy defense minister, Ukraine is trying to move south towards the city as part of its counteroffensive. If she regains the city, property rights transferred during the occupation will likely be declared invalid, Una Hathaway, a Yale law professor, told the publication. But that doesn’t stop people like Oksana, who says, “I haven’t given up on my dream yet. My goal is to have my own house of at least 180 square meters.”
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