Russian authorities are confiscating thousands of apartments in occupied Mariupol from homeowners who fled the city after the full-scale invasion began, BBC reports.
A BBC Verify investigation found that since July 2024, the Russian authorities in Mariupol have designated at least 5,700 homes in the city as subject to confiscation.
Most of these apartments belonged to Ukrainians who either fled or died during the 86-day siege of Mariupol in 2022. At the time, Human Rights Watch estimated over 8,000 people were killed by Russian shelling, though that number is “likely a significant underestimation.”
Ownerless apartments
Based on an analysis of documents by BBC Verify, apart from the 2,200 residences currently being forcibly transferred to the occupying authority, an additional 3,550 units are identified as possible candidates for seizure.
Russian officials label these properties as ownerless, claiming they are unused or lack a legal owner under Russian law.
Documents posted on the official site of the occupying authority indicate that the typical confiscation procedure usually starts following notifications from inspectors or community members and concludes with the compulsory takeover of assets.
To retain ownership, Ukrainians would have to undertake a dangerous journey back to the occupied city, pass strict security checks, navigate complex bureaucracy, and face pressure to accept a Russian passport. This makes reclaiming their property nearly impossible.
Destruction of Mariupol’s historic city center
Earlier reports indicated that the Russian occupying authorities, purportedly as part of rebuilding initiatives, have started disassembling the historic heart of the temporarily seized city of Mariupol. The aggressors are tearing down structures with significant historical value.
The Center for National Resistance reported that in the city’s downtown area, officials from the Russian administration have approved plans for new residential buildings. These properties are designated for Russian citizens hailing from less affluent areas as well as Asian migrants, available through mortgage schemes.
