The Russians hunting for cheap flats in occupied Mariupol

BBC News.com ^ | Adam Robinson, Erwan Rivault and Olga Robinson

[Timber Rattler]

It is one year since the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was largely destroyed by Russian forces and captured.

It is now being transformed and presented as a showcase for rule from Moscow - and some Russians are even hoping to buy homes there.

Russia claimed to have annexed Mariupol, along with all other occupied areas, following a series of referendums that have been widely condemned as sham exercises.

About 90% of the city's buildings were damaged or destroyed by Russian shelling during a gruelling two-month siege. Thousands of civilians were killed and about 350,000 people left, out of the pre-war population of 430,000, according to the UN.

Now, the occupation authorities seem intent on "Russifying" the city, changing Ukrainian-language road signs to Russian ones, introducing the Russian curriculum in schools and pushing the remaining residents to acquire Russian passports.

BBC Verify has used satellite footage to map how Russia is reshaping the fabric of the city.

It has also found that while new development is ongoing, extensive destruction remains - and it has heard from remaining pre-war residents who fear an uncertain future.

[Timber Rattler]

Seems that Putin is turning Mariupol into a Potemkin village to try and attract new Muscovite settlers to "Russify" it.

[desertsolitaire]

Will the residents who fled the intense shelling have “right of return” to reclaim their damaged or destroyed properties?

[blitz128]

The same way they created Russian populations in many countries, take over, deport, kill…. Indigenous population and the declare it Russian

I say go for it but flats there, should end well.

As an aside, more expenses for Russian economy that is now spending a third of their budget on their “quick” war

[Petrosius]

The same way they created Russian populations in many countries, take over, deport, kill…. Indigenous population and the declare it Russian

That is how Stalin made Crimea Russian. He deported the native Tartar populations and replaced them with Russians.

[Gunslingr3]

The same way they created Russian populations in many countries, take over, deport, kill…. Indigenous population and the declare it Russian.

You just described how the U.S. conquered the West and basically how every society on earth has expanded from the beginning of time.

[blitz128]

That is true, so you are advocating that practice still? Or just for Russia
BTW, the Europeans may have taken the land for the “american Indians “ , but the Indians were doing a fine job of invading, warring, enslaving…. Each other before we got there

I call it recentism, a condition in which one goes only back far enough in history to justify their position
Indians are one
Another is Mexican claims in US territory, welllll exactly how did Mexico come to possess these territories before they were “stolen “ from them

[bert]

Pro Russian Freepers who approve of war crimes approve of the process. Loss of freedom is condoned by such misguided people

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

There are buying opportunities everywhere. For example....

$21,8002 bd1 ba927 sqft
10065 Balfour Rd, Detroit, MI 48224

Source: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10065-Balfour-Rd-Detroit-MI-48224/88355107_zpid/

$22,9003 bd1 ba996 sqft
5208 Neff Ave, Detroit, MI 48224

Source: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5208-Neff-Ave-Detroit-MI-48224/88767098_zpid/

[Gunslingr3]

the Indians were doing a fine job of invading, warring, enslaving…. Each other before we got there

It's almost as if I hadn't written, "basically how every society on earth has expanded from the beginning of time."

[TangoLimaSierra]

Russian shelling during a gruelling two-month siege.

Don't forget the 8 years of the Ukes shelling them.

[dforest]

The people you are talking to have no self awareness. It is okay as long it is they that have done it or they that are doing it.

[ansel12]

This is the 21st century.