Up to 50,000 residents of Mariupol left Ukraine: some returned to the occupied city through housing – the city council

the Russian occupiers force the residents of the destroyed Mariupol to return to the city in order to preserve the right to the surviving housing. If the owners do not confirm their rights, the real estate will be confiscated. These actions are part of the propaganda campaign of the aggressor country, which tries to create the illusion of “restoration” of the city, while in reality the rights of Mariupol residents are systematically violated, and living conditions remain catastrophic. This was reported by the Mariupol City Council, reports UNN.

Over the past 3 years, 30,000-50,000 residents of Mariupol have left Ukraine. This is evidenced by the data of the “Yamariupol” and “Sprotivu” centers. Some of those people did return to Mariupol. However, there is no exact information on how many of them remained in the city, and how many later left.

How Russia manipulates the people of Mariupol

The issue of returning people to the temporarily occupied territories, in particular to Mariupol, is being actively discussed in the information space.

“Why do some people leave? The aggressor country is purposefully creating a real trap for Ukrainian families, using its usual tools – propaganda, lawlessness and manipulation,” said the message of the city mayor Vadym Boychenko.

After Russian troops destroyed more than 1,000 high-rise buildings in Mariupol, leaving 67,000 families homeless, the occupiers are giving people an ultimatum. The owners of the surviving houses are forced to return to certify their right to housing. Otherwise, the property will be confiscated.

“In reality, this is a trap. After all, all this is done only to create a propaganda image of the city’s restoration, but in fact Mariupol remains half-ruined, and the rights of the Mariupol residents themselves are neglected,” the Mariupol City Council added.

Why not return

The Ukrainian authorities call on the residents of Mariupol not to return to the occupied territory. Complying with Russian demands does not guarantee safety or fair treatment. In Mariupol, as in other occupied territories, the arbitrariness of the Russian military and administration reigns.

Ukraine is preparing support programs for displaced people, although due to the war, this is a difficult and long process.

“Yes, we all want this work to proceed as quickly as possible, but Ukraine is going through extremely difficult times precisely because of Russian aggression,” the message reads.

The city council concluded that after the liberation of Mariupol, the Ukrainian law will again apply, and the authorities will work to restore justice and ensure the rights of all residents.

Earlier

People’s deputy and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights Maksym Tkachenko said that about 150,000 internally displaced persons returned to the temporarily occupied territories, of which approximately 70,000 settled in Mariupol. As the reason, he cited the insufficient support of the displaced by the state, in particular, the lack of housing, social benefits and employment opportunities.

Tkachenko later denied his words, admitting that it was an “emotional and unfounded assumption.”

Statements about the mass return of IDPs were sharply condemned by the deputy head of the Office of the President, Iryna Vereshchuk. She emphasized that such statements are “a lie and an attempt to draw attention to a painful topic.”