Russians buy up new apartments in Mariupol built on city's ruins
Photo: Mariupol in 2026 (Getty Images)
In Russian-occupied Mariupol, new residential complexes are being built on the sites of destroyed apartment buildings. Russians are actively buying real estate there, according to Deutsche Welle.
Residents of the new apartments on Metallurgy Avenue communicate with each other in online chat rooms. Their messages suggest that many are buying the apartments to live in themselves or to rent out later.
In these chats, the new residents discuss, among other things, furniture delivery from Russia and choosing kindergartens and schools for their children. At the same time, when processing paperwork, they are reminded of the need to have Russian documents.
According to economist Vyacheslav Shiryaev, apartments in Mariupol's new developments are primarily purchased by newcomers from Russia. Among them are Russian security officials, government officials, and military logistics personnel.
"In addition, there are some who would just like to live by the sea but can't afford Crimea or Sochi," he notes.
Russians are offered mortgages
The article also discusses preferential mortgage loans in Russian-occupied regions. People are offered loans with an interest rate of 2% per year for the entire term of the loan. The main condition is that the borrower must hold Russian citizenship.
The maximum loan amount is 6 million rubles, and the minimum down payment is 2%.
Dozens of apartment buildings are currently under construction in Mariupol, many of which are already occupied. According to Russian banks, the occupied port city has become the leader in mortgage loan volume.
At the same time, housing prices have risen by about a third over the past year. One of the reasons cited for this is the city's location by the sea.
"Construction companies are cutting corners wherever they can, but still demanding exorbitant prices," the agency quotes the economist as saying.
The Russians fully occupied Mariupol in May 2022. During months of fighting, Russian troops heavily shelled residential neighborhoods, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties.
In June of this year, Ukrainian forces destroyed key infrastructure at the Mariupol commercial port.
