Residential complex “Nevskiy”, built in 2023 in the western part of Mariupol. Google Maps
According to the Russian news agency TASS
In September 2025, global image services released updated satellite images of the temporarily occupied Mariupol. After the heavy fighting, the footage shows extensive destruction and redevelopment of districts: in heavily ruined areas they are building new housing stock, and part of the population is relocating to facilities that are currently being constructed instead of the preserved infrastructure.
Analysts from city administrations and independent experts conducted an assessment of these data to evaluate the real scale of destruction and the nature of the “recovery” being advanced by the occupying authorities and their contractors.
According to the city administration and expert assessments, the destruction affected a large share of the housing stock: about 90% of residential buildings sustained damage in 2022, and more than 2,200 apartment buildings were destroyed, half of them completely. Significant losses were also recorded in cultural heritage – more than two hundred architectural monuments were demolished or significantly damaged. The Mariupol Drama Theater became a symbol of the tragedy: during the siege the theater stage was used as shelter for civilians, and casualty estimates range from hundreds to about six hundred. In December 2022 the occupying authorities began demolishing the theater; Russian companies issued statements about restoration, but the actual work looks like redevelopment with minimal restoration work.
New Neighborhoods and Space
According to plans, on nearly 59 hectares, during the construction, historic houses will be demolished and several microdistricts will be built to house thousands of new residents.
The first large-scale project is the Nevsky housing estate: more than 1,000 apartments expected in two sections – six nine-story buildings and twelve five-story buildings; the general contractor is a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
On the western outskirts they are constructing the MiraPolis district with four blocks rising from 9 to 16 floors and with commercial spaces on the first floor; also planned are the Residence on Builders Avenue and Zhukov – a comfort-class complex from a Donetsk-based company. The Azure Shores development is planned on the site of the ruined nine-story building, with commissioning expected in 2026.
Around Azovstal they continue shaping a waterfront promenade with shops and parks; part of the old workshops are proposed to be converted into museums and exhibition spaces. Currently satellite images mostly capture dismantling and removal of metal scrap, rather than active construction.
Experts emphasize: after the occupation, Mariupol has become a site for large-scale development, but most of the housing stock lacks accessibility and real use. According to analyses by think tanks, about 700 high-rise buildings are in a “frozen repair” state, and the responsibility for final completion of works often falls on the residents themselves.
Officially they claim the housing compensation program has been completed: reportedly about 4,500 apartments issued, but during the siege more than 52,000 housing units were destroyed. The Mariupol City Council adds that even by official data, only a small percentage of the lost has been restored.
The Gauleiter of the city notes that to verify the housing queue they are creating a municipal fund and registering apartments for new residents through courts. The first dozens of such apartments have already been transferred, but many belong to the deceased or displaced residents, underscoring long-standing questions about their future use.
The current situation indicates a prolonged decline in housing accessibility and that cultural heritage remains under threat. The international community and civil society continue to monitor the processes of “recovery” and call for transparency of data regarding the future of Mariupol.
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