The State of Mariupol
Four years after the full-scale invasion began, the situation in Mariupol remains dire. Residents of the occupied territories, including Mariupol itself, continue to live without proper housing despite repeated promises of reconstruction. An audit by the Russian Federation's Accounts Chamber and the Center for National Resistance has uncovered systemic violations and corrupt schemes that have led to widespread construction failures. In the city, Russian builders have demolished 360 apartment buildings but have erected only 65 new ones. Consequently, approximately 18,000 native Mariupol residents remain homeless.
The Russian Accounts Chamber audit found that over 170 buildings in Mariupol have been officially listed as 'under reconstruction' for four years, yet work on them is effectively frozen. Construction proceeded without approved plans or permits, indicating systematic regulatory breaches. Cost estimates were artificially inflated, with the price of some projects more than doubling without justification. Contractors received advances of up to 75% of the budget, yet faced no penalties for missing deadlines, further highlighting a profound lack of oversight.
Broader Recovery Issues
In the temporarily occupied part of the Luhansk region, authorities are preparing to introduce mandatory capital repair fees, scheduled for 2027. According to the occupation administration, 85% of the 12,000 buildings in this territory require repair. A large-scale reconstruction effort in Horlivka and Makiivka has been announced for 2026.
The Center for National Resistance notes that Mariupol has been used as a testing ground for a 'budget vacuum cleaner' model, where the primary goal is not the city's restoration but the maximum siphoning of federal funds through shell companies and fictitious contracts. Official reports show billions allocated, but on the ground, only ruins, unfinished buildings, and thousands of families without homes remain. This pattern reflects a broader crisis of governance in occupied Ukrainian territories, where accountability is severely lacking.
The situation in Mariupol illustrates the serious problems arising in the process of rebuilding infrastructure in occupied territories, where corruption schemes and a lack of proper control lead to delays and the failure of promised projects. — Center for National Resistance
The lack of housing for thousands of residents who lost their homes points to a critical humanitarian situation requiring urgent resolution. This case also underscores the risks associated with non-transparent budget spending and ineffective management in war-affected regions.