Introduction
Russian-controlled media portrays Mariupol as “reborn” and orderly—but residents contest this narrative. Survivor interviews reveal a city plagued by ruins, shortages, and forced propaganda three years after its brutal siege.
Facade vs. Full Picture
John, who remains in occupied Mariupol under a pseudonym, said only central streets have been superficially restored for media tours. “Around the corner, there’s rubble and emptiness,” he told the BBC, describing half-destroyed homes and debris-filled yards.
Another escapee, Olha Onyshko, described Mariupol as “diseased,” saying that reconstruction is mere cosmetic at key squares, while body-littered rubble elsewhere was hastily removed. “They didn’t separate the dead bodies—they loaded them with the rubble,” she said.
Water Scarcity Crisis
Residents report severe shortages of clean water. Meduza revealed that scheduled supply lasts just six hours daily, with patches of no service lasting days. The remaining water—drawn from dwindling reservoirs—is yellow and undrinkable. Some locals say it looks like “coca‑cola.” (Meduza)
Mariupol exiled deputy mayor Serhii Orlov confirms the main Siverskyi Donets canal drastically damaged during wartime, forcing reliance on a reservoir insufficient by two-thirds. Today’s water fails minimum health standards.
Infrastructure & Hardship
Sewer, gas, heating, and electricity networks remain devastated. After 85 days of siege, Human Rights Watch documented complete loss of essential services: no power, no water, no heat. Consequences include hypothermia and unsafe sanitation. (HRW)
Many citizens queue for water at improvised pumps or collect from puddles. UN reports warned of looming cholera outbreaks due to tainted water and corpses clogging streets. (CNN)
Propaganda in Schools & Public Space
Andrii Kozhushyna, once a Mariupol student, said Russian textbooks now label entire Ukrainian regions, including Mariupol, as Russian territory. Students attend sessions praising Russia’s “liberation” from Nazis, with dissenting teachers punished.
Victory Day celebrations in Russian colours and military costume show coordinated efforts to reshape cultural identity. Yet locals resist covertly—painting Ukrainian blue-yellow graffiti and spray-pasting protest slogans such as “Liberate Mariupol.”
Covert Resistance & Intelligence
Despite risks, some remain active. James and John—resistance members—collect intelligence on Russian troop movements and infrastructure repairs, relaying these to Ukrainian forces discreetly.
They conduct sabotage: signaling box fires disrupted train lines two times. Andrii fled after being exposed, snuck through Russia and Belarus, and returned to Ukraine.
Broader Context & Ukrainian Perspective
Recent Reuters polling shows many Ukrainians strongly oppose ceding territory—even fully destroyed areas like Mariupol—to Russia as part of peace talks. The contested city remains deeply symbolic. (Reuters)
Conclusion
Mariupol stands as a stark testament: superficial reconstruction masks deep crisis. Utilities crippled, public narratives twisted, and citizen resistance persists. The city’s plight underlines the urgency of justice and liberation—not propaganda.
👉 Learn more: Ukraine Peace & Territory Debate
