Russians are buying seaside apartments built on the ruins of the Mariupol homes Russia bombed—DW

Russians residing in Mariupol under occupation are purchasing residential units constructed atop structures razed during the 2022 Russian siege, according to a report by German news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) on August 15, 2026. Ukrainians who once inhabited these sites did not receive any of the new accommodations, disclosed a source to DW.

These developments are part of Russia's broader campaign to Russify Mariupol. Occupation authorities have set aside roughly 900 apartments for redistribution, encompassing properties belonging to residents who were expelled due to the siege. Economists suggest that the majority of buyers are newcomers, including Russian security personnel, officials, and military logistics workers.

Some individuals opt for these apartments due to their proximity to the sea, but lack the financial means to acquire properties in Russian-controlled Crimea or the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, explained economist Vyacheslav Shiryaev. In Russia-occupied areas, Russian citizens are provided with mortgages at an annual interest rate of 2%, as reported by DW.

Occupation authorities have also mandated the eviction of certain residents from surviving apartments, compelling them to reside in hostels or other accommodations on the outskirts of Mariupol, rather than receiving replacements, disclosed another source to DW. Unable to access Mariupol, DW gathered its information using testimonies from former inhabitants, satellite imagery, and online research.

For those who lost their homes during the siege, new residences stand in their place. Halyna Artemova, an English teacher who lived in a demolished apartment complex for nearly four decades, experienced the devastation firsthand when a Russian missile struck her building in March 2022. She managed to escape with her mother and son, sustaining wounds from shrapnel.

A contemporary high-rise now occupies the site where her home once stood. Yevhen Sosnovskyi, a photographer and his wife, had lived in a neighboring building for 20 years until it caught fire during the attack, forcing them out without the ability to gather personal belongings. Sosnovskyi captured images of his apartment before and after the assault, serving as a visual record of their lost home.

He expressed his disapproval, stating, "They're building on human bones, and fast, to eradicate the traces of their crimes," in an interview with DW. Photographer Yevhen Sosnovskyi documented his apartment before and after the Russian attack.