Russians snap up new homes built on Ukraine 'graveyard'
Russia is constructing high-rises in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, on the sites of buildings it destroyed. Who's buying these properties? And what happened to the Ukrainians who used to lived here?
Russian contractors have been rapidly constructing high-rise apartment buildings on sites previously occupied by destroyed homes in Mariupol, Ukraine. The new developments, known as Leningradsky Kvartal, are composed of several 12 to 15-story buildings located near the city center and the sea. Property prices in the area have risen by a third in just one year, driven by the coastal location.
However, analysts warn that the quality of the apartments is poor, as construction companies are cutting corners to meet demand and maintain exorbitant prices. Former residents of the destroyed buildings, now replaced by the new Leningradsky Kvartal, are required to have Russian citizenship to secure a mortgage and purchase a unit.
Many of those who lived in the old buildings were killed or injured during the 2022 Russian siege, and some who remained in the city were pressured by occupying authorities to vacate their homes in exchange for new properties in the Leningradsky Kvartal. Despite these pressures, not all former residents have been able to acquire an apartment in the new complex.
Instead, many have been relocated to accommodations on the outskirts of town or in hostels. The local population is being displaced from Mariupol, with Artemova, a former resident who now lives in Kyiv, expressing concern for those who remained behind.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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