BBC Uncovers Russian Campaign to Strip Mariupol Ukrainians of Their Homes.

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A BBC Verify investigation has exposed a systematic campaign by Russian authorities to seize thousands of homes in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol — a move critics say amounts to state-backed theft and forced demographic change.

According to the report, at least 5,700 properties in Mariupol have already been targeted for confiscation, predominantly belonging to residents who fled during the devastating 2022 siege. 

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Under Russian-imposed laws in occupied territories, homes deemed “ownerless” are automatically transferred to state ownership, giving occupation authorities legal cover to strip displaced Ukrainians of their properties.

For those wishing to reclaim their homes, the process is perilous. BBC investigators documented that returning residents must navigate dangerous conditions, face rigorous security checks, and endure pressure to accept Russian citizenship — a requirement before their property rights are even considered.

This property seizure campaign forms part of Russia’s wider effort to "Russify" Mariupol. 

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Streets have been renamed, Russian monuments erected, and military infrastructure expanded throughout the city.  

While Russian officials claim to be rebuilding Mariupol, BBC reports indicate severe housing shortages persist, leaving many remaining residents in crumbling or partially destroyed buildings.

Survivors like Halyna, a former Mariupol resident, say they have discovered strangers now occupying their apartments. 

"It’s nothing short of legalized theft," she told the BBC, condemning the policy as both a violation of international law and a personal tragedy for families who lost everything in the war.

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Ukrainian officials have denounced the seizures, calling them part of a calculated attempt to erase Ukrainian identity and solidify Russian control in illegally occupied regions. 

Human rights groups echo this warning, describing the campaign as forced displacement disguised as legal procedure.

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, Mariupol’s plight stands as a stark example of how property, identity, and human rights are being weaponized in the conflict’s shadow.

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