Russia folds occupied Mariupol port into its economic system, intelligence reports
Photo: Russia integrates the port in occupied Mariupol into its own economy (wikipedia.org)
Russia stepped up the use of the temporarily occupied Mariupol seaport in 2025, presenting it as a "restoration." In reality, this involves the illegal appropriation of Ukrainian infrastructure and its integration into Russia's logistics system, according to the press service of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
The intelligence agency notes that at the same time the occupiers are replacing Ukrainian standards with Russian ones, effectively erasing Ukrainian jurisdiction.
The decision to open the port to foreign vessels is an attempt to create an illusion of "legality" and to circumvent sanctions. Plans include deepening the channel and expanding cargo handling capacity, confirming the intention to turn Mariupol into a key logistics hub for the temporarily occupied territories.
Against this backdrop, the social situation is rapidly deteriorating. School meal programs in the city have been suspended due to a lack of funding from the occupation authorities. Residents have been waiting for years for promised housing: instead of compensation for destroyed homes, expensive mortgage high-rises are being built that are unaffordable for Mariupol residents.
At the same time, a legally simplified mechanism for seizing “ownerless” housing is in effect — apartments are being mass-confiscated from owners who were killed, fled, or lost their documents.
In addition, the city is being used as a military training ground for Russian personnel. All appeals and complaints from residents receive the same response: “wait.”
"For Russia, Mariupol is not a city or a community, but a trophy and expendable material. Under the cover of propaganda about 'restoration,' Russia is demonstrating the complete degradation of state policy, based on disregard for human life, cynical exploitation of seized territories, and deliberate disregard for international law," the Foreign Intelligence Service said.
Russia seizes ports in Mariupol and Berdiansk
Earlier, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned a Russian government order dated August 22, 2025, which added the seaports of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk and Mariupol to Russia’s list of ports open to foreign vessels.
The Russian government included the seaports of the temporarily occupied Mariupol and Berdiansk on the list of Russian ports open to foreign vessels. The relevant decree was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on August 25, the Center for Transport Strategies (CTS) reported.
According to experts, these steps are aimed at intensifying the large-scale export of stolen Ukrainian grain, metal, and coal from the occupied ports.
In particular, more than 300,000 tons of Ukrainian grain were illegally exported through the port of Berdiansk in 2024 alone. On average, Russian occupiers transport between 40,000 and 60,000 tons of stolen resources each month.
The Mariupol port, which the Kremlin plans to expand by the end of the year, regularly receives Russian cargo vessels to load grain that is then shipped to Russia.
In addition, we previously reported that Russia plans to open an "international" border crossing point in the temporarily occupied city of Berdiansk in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.
