Archive · 4 Aug 2025
Mariupol Residents Displaced as Russia Sells Homes to Russians
Imagine a city, Mariupol, that was badly damaged during a war.
Now, the people who used to live there can't easily go back.
Instead, new people from Russia are moving in, buying up the rebuilt homes.
The old residents are left out, unable to get their homes back or get money for them.
It's like the new people get special treatment while the original owners are forgotten.
This is happening because the area is now under Russian control, and they're changing who lives there and who owns the properties.
Russia is selling apartments in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol to Russian newcomers, displacing former residents.
The Clock House, a historic building in Mariupol, was demolished after the city's capture, with a new building constructed for sale.
Former residents of the Clock House are largely excluded from the redevelopment, facing barriers to reclaim or receive compensation for their properties.
Russian newcomers benefit from incentives like low mortgage rates, while former residents find themselves unable to return or claim their property.
The strategy mirrors historical practices of replacing local populations with ethnic Russians in conquered territories.
- Who
- Former Ukrainian residents of Mariupol, Russian newcomers, Russian authorities, and the developer Roskapstroy.
- What
- The displacement of former residents in Mariupol and the sale of their properties to Russian newcomers.
- When
- Following Russia's conquest of Mariupol in early 2022, with redevelopments occurring in late 2022 and sales starting in 2023.
- Where
- Mariupol, Ukraine.
- Why
- To replace the existing Ukrainian population with Russian citizens, and for profit.
Former Ukrainian Residents
Russian Authorities/Developers
Property Rights
Former Ukrainian Residents
The original residents have a right to return to their homes and receive compensation.
Russian Authorities/Developers
Russian authorities and developers are not providing adequate opportunities to restore ownership.
Justice and Fairness
Former Ukrainian Residents
The demolition of the Clock House and exclusion of prior residents is unfair and unjust.
Russian Authorities/Developers
The focus is on redevelopment and profit for Russian newcomers, disregarding the former residents' history.
- City
- Mariupol
- Building Name
- Clock House
- Original Residents
- Ukrainian
- New Residents
- Russian
- Mortgage Rates for Russians
- 2%
- Developer
- RKS Development
- Approximate Cost of Construction
- 850 million Russian rubles