Mariupol was once a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience and prosperity.
A bustling coastal city on the Sea of Azov, it thrived as a hub for commerce, industry, and education. It was also a beloved tourist destination.
All of that changed in 2022, when Russian forces besieged the city in one of the most brutal campaigns of the war, according to Ziare.
Bombings leveled neighborhoods, and tens of thousands lost their lives. What remains now is a city under occupation, struggling to hold onto its identity.
37 Kilometers of New Roads
In this fractured Mariupol, Russia is building new bypass roads to conceal military movements from residents who remain loyal to Kyiv.
Dmitro Zabavin, a member of Mariupol’s City Council in exile, revealed these plans during an interview with Espresso TV.
He stated that the Russians are trying to keep their logistics invisible to avoid attracting attention.
“They are constructing routes outside the city,” Zabavin explained.
“Equipment moves constantly through Mariupol, often using central streets like Naberezhna, but they want to stop people from watching.”
Russian forces have already completed 37 kilometers of new roads in the occupied Donetsk region, connecting Mariupol to Russia and Crimea.
These routes, Zabavin said, are critical for maintaining supply lines while reducing local awareness of military operations.
Before the war, Mariupol’s streets were filled with life. Now, they serve as pathways for military convoys. The city’s tragic transformation began with relentless bombardments in 2022.
By April, Ukrainian forces were pushed into the Azovstal steel plant. There, they held out for weeks before surrendering in May.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of the city’s buildings were damaged or destroyed during the siege. Russian forces have since started rebuilding, often housing Russian citizens in abandoned homes.
