Three years after the capture of Mariupol, the BBC reports on a plan to “Russify” the city, as Russian authorities systematically seize thousands of homes belonging to Ukrainians who fled.
At least 5,700 homes are targeted for confiscation, and to reclaim them, Ukrainians must go through complicated procedures, such as obtaining a Russian passport after returning to Mariupol via Russia, enduring rigorous security checks, and navigating a complex bureaucratic process.
Official documents posted on the pro-Russian administration’s website detail the complex process leading to property seizures.
During the 86-day siege of Mariupol (2022), at least 8,000 people were killed, and an estimated 350,000 people fled the city.
Within 10 days of the initial report, Russian authorities publish a notice on their website stating that the property shows “signs of lack of ownership.” If the owner does not appear in person within 30 days of the publication, the authorities begin registering the property as “ownerless,” despite it having legal owners.
In practice, once a property is labeled “ownerless,” it becomes nearly “impossible” to reclaim. Once homes are seized, a law passed late last year allows authorities to transfer ownership to private individuals. Only residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, who have lost their property and hold Russian passports, are eligible to acquire homes under this program.
The seizures seem to be part of a broader plan to “Russify” the occupied coastal city, which includes building new military facilities and renaming streets with titles approved by Moscow.
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