Mariupol's 'Leningradsky Quarter' built on ruins, displacing former residents

In Mariupol, a new residential complex named "Leningradsky Quarter" has been constructed by Russian developer "Su-2007" on Metalurški Prospekt, replacing buildings destroyed during the Russian invasion. This development has drawn criticism from former residents who see it as a symbol of erasure and occupation.

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This is my beloved city. When I see photos, tears well up. I know every crack in the asphalt, every tree.

Halina Artemova, who lived in Mariupol for nearly 40 years, described the city as her beloved home, expressing deep sorrow when seeing photos of its current state. Similarly, photographer Jevhen Sosnovski lost his home and decades of personal investment in its interior design after a missile strike. Their former residences are now part of a parking lot and a new apartment building, respectively.

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I made everything myself, from interior design to furniture. We invested a lot and wanted to spend our old age there peacefully.

The new apartments are being marketed primarily to Russian citizens, with attractive mortgage options, including a 2% annual interest rate for those with Russian citizenship. Online forums for new residents reveal discussions about furniture delivery from Russia and enrollment in local kindergartens and schools. Some residents complain about construction noise, questioning if those complaining are "pro-Ukrainian" and against "Russian laws."

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It's time to rest! Stop these damn works already! Or are you perhaps pro-Ukrainian and against Russian laws?

Economic expert Vyacheslav Shiryaev suggests that the primary buyers are settlers, including individuals from Russian security structures, civil servants, and military-related personnel. While some are drawn by the desire to live by the sea, they cannot afford popular Russian resorts like Crimea or Sochi. The construction on the ruins of destroyed homes, particularly those where residents were forcibly displaced, has become a contentious issue, highlighting the ongoing impact of the conflict on the city's identity and its former inhabitants.

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There are also a small number of people who simply want to live by the sea, but cannot afford Crimea or Sochi.