Russian forces in Mariupol want to demolish damaged houses within two weeks — Adviser to Mariupol Mayor

In temporarily occupied Mariupol, Russian forces informed residents about demolishing partially destroyed houses within two weeks. The occupying power requires the residents to move out, but does not organize relocation, reports Adviser to Mariupol Mayor Petro Andriushchenko.

Earlier, Petro Andriushchenko reported that Dmitry Khadzhinov, the so-called deputy mayor of Mariupol appointed by the Russian forces, said that Mariupol residents had to rebuild their homes on their own.

The occupation authorities also said there would be no heating in the winter, but the city plans to install heating points. The mayor's adviser noted that more than 130,000 people remain in the city.

According to Andriushchenko, due to heating problems, schools in Mariupol will be open only during the warm season — winter vacations will be more extended while summer vacations are canceled. The occupiers are also discussing the shift to remote learning.

Housing demolition 

On June 1, Andriushchenko said that the occupying authorities in Mariupol made a decision to demolish houses damaged by shellings which will leave people homeless, given that Russia doesn't offer housing alternatives.

On June 10, the Mariupol City Council reported that the Russian forces had stopped dismantling the rubble before demolishing houses in Mariupol. Earlier, citizens and so-called rescuers of the self-proclaimed "DPR" were involved in the search for the bodies of the dead. Dozens of dead were found under the rubble.

What is happening in Mariupol?

Mariupol was under Russian blockade and was de facto destroyed. At least 84,000 citizens lost their homes due to destruction after the Russian blockade. The exact number of killed Mariupol residents is unknown, but according to preliminary data, up to 22,000 people died in Mariupol. Some residents were forcibly deported to the territory of the unrecognized DPR or Russia.

At the same time, the occupying authorities plan to resume studies in Mariupol schools and have already delivered Russian textbooks to implement the plan. The educational process in schools will last all summer: the Russians have canceled summer vacations.

According to Mariupol Mayor's Adviser Petro Adriushchenko, the city's occupation authorities have started issuing pensions in rubles to local residents.

Ukrainian defenders from the Azovstal plant were taken to the temporarily occupied territories by Russian forces. Ukrainian authorities expect to exchange the service members in the near future.