Russians destroyed half of Mariupol, 52.000 families homeless — city mayor

Of the city's 2,000 high-rise buildings, 934 were destroyed by Russian airstrikes, leaving 52,000 families homeless, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko said in an interview for Liga.net on April 30.

“They have already demolished almost 600 houses, hiding crimes," said mayor of the city.

"Private sector — 6.000 houses have been demolished. Additionally, 70% of hospitals and 50% of schools and kindergartens were also destroyed."

Read also: 12 powerful explosions rock occupied Mariupol shortly after midnight, Ukrainian official says

52.000 families from Mariupol are currently homeless, which is 150.000 to 200.000 people, about half of the city.

“And Russians have built houses only for 3.000 people," said Boychenko.

"It is not a lot. When they show a house in field, they are afraid to turn the camera left or right."

Read also: Surreal tour of Mariupol’s ruins ignites international outcry

Mayor also added that topic of victims among the civilian population in Mariupol is still very sensitive. He mentioned, initial report on the approximate number of victims has already been submitted to the European Parliament.

“According to an initial, very modest estimate, the number of dead Mariupol residents is 8.200," Boychenko said.

"But even this report counts 10.500 graves. Many of them contain more than one deceased person, and not all graves were documented.."

Occupation of Mariupol by Russian troops

In May 2022, after almost three months of siege and bloody fighting, Mariupol was occupied by Russians. Before the full-scale invasion, this port city had a population of about 450.000 people. During the siege, half of residents left, and tens of thousands died.

By the time, last Ukrainian defenders left Azovstal steel plant in May and surrendered on orders of command, Mariupol had transformed from a major industrial center into a ruin.

Russians want to hide traces of their crimes in captured Mariupol and show they are “restoring” the city, but “reality is very different from propaganda”, reported Financial Times on Feb. 8. 

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine