The city of Mariupol, a once vibrant and proud Ukrainian port city, now lies under the weight of devastation and occupation. The tragic story of Mariupol’s fall during the early days of Russia’s invasion is not just one of war and destruction, but one of resilience and unyielding hope. Despite the Russian forces taking control, the people of Mariupol, including those who still live there under occupation, continue to battle the suppression of their freedom, culture, and identity. One such individual is “John,” a Ukrainian resident of Mariupol, whose name we have changed to protect his identity from Russian authorities.
“Most of Mariupol still lies in ruins,” John says, a sentiment echoed by many of his fellow residents. “What they’re showing on Russian TV are fairy tales for fools,” he continues, describing how the media portray a rosy picture of life in the city, highlighting only the repaired facades of buildings along main streets where cameras are brought in to take photos. However, the reality for most of the residents, John explains, is far more grim. “Around the corner, there is rubble and emptiness. Many people still live in half-destroyed apartments with walls barely standing.”
John’s description paints a stark picture of what has been left of a once-thriving city after the brutality of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the siege of Mariupol. Thousands of civilians were killed, and the United Nations estimates that 90% of residential buildings in the city were either damaged or destroyed. In the months that followed the occupation, Russian-backed pro-Russia influencers attempted to depict the city as being well on its way to recovery. Social media videos and images flooded the internet, showing parts of the city where repairs were made, giving the impression that life had returned to normal.
However, the reality faced by Mariupol’s residents is far different. John is among the many who continue to live in harsh conditions, deprived of basic amenities. “There are a lot of lies floating around,” says Olha Onyshko, a 66-year-old who escaped Mariupol late last year and now resides in Ukraine’s Ternopil. She confirms John’s account, adding that only a small portion of the city has been rebuilt. “There’s a central square—only the buildings there have been reconstructed. And there are also empty spaces where buildings stood. They cleared the debris, but they didn’t even separate out the dead bodies. They were just loaded onto trucks with the rubble and carried out of the city.”
The harsh conditions are further exacerbated by severe water shortages. According to residents, the water supply is inconsistent. “Water flows for a day or two, then it doesn’t come for three days. The water is so yellow that even after boiling it, it’s scary to drink,” John shares. Some residents even compare the water’s color to “Coca-Cola.” Serhii Orlov, the self-proclaimed deputy mayor of Mariupol in exile, explains that the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal, which used to supply water to the city, was damaged during the fighting. “Only one reservoir was left supplying water to Mariupol. For the current population, that would’ve lasted for about a year and a half,” Serhii explains. The water that residents now have access to doesn’t meet basic drinking water standards.
Basic necessities like food and medicine have also become scarce. “Basic medicines are not available. Diabetics struggle to get insulin on time, and it is crazy expensive,” John says. Residents of Mariupol are also dealing with frequent power outages and rising prices for what little food is available.
In addition to the dire material conditions, many residents are subjected to the psychological trauma of witnessing the indoctrination of Ukrainian children. Andrii Kozhushyna, who was studying in Mariupol under Russian occupation, recalls how children are taught false narratives and propaganda. “For example, school textbooks state that Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Odesa, Crimea, and even Dnipropetrovsk regions are all already part of Russia,” he says. Andrii also describes how children are taught in “Conversations about Important Things,” where the lessons focus on Russia’s liberation of Russian-speaking people from Nazis in 2022. Teachers who refuse to teach these lessons are reportedly intimidated or fired, and many teachers who dare to resist are silenced by the Russian authorities.
The impact of this propaganda on the younger generation is devastating. “It’s like they are reprogramming the minds of our children,” says John. The psychological toll this takes on the youth of Mariupol cannot be overstated. The children of Mariupol are not only growing up under Russian occupation but are also being systematically taught to believe in a version of history that distorts reality.
Despite these grim circumstances, resistance still thrives in the heart of Mariupol. Ukrainians, in secret, continue to defy Russian rule, carrying out acts of resistance and sabotage. James and John, both members of resistance groups, explain how they continue to document Russian military movements and collect intelligence for the Ukrainian military. “We try to gather as much information as we can and transmit it to the Ukrainian military,” James shares. They photograph Russian military activity, track the movement of soldiers and weapons, and report any significant developments to Ukrainian intelligence. Their work is dangerous and done under constant threat of discovery by Russian forces.
Occasionally, the resistance groups also engage in sabotage efforts. On at least two occasions, the railway line into Mariupol was disrupted by activists who set fire to the signaling box. These acts of defiance, though risky, offer hope to the people of Mariupol. “The messages we leave behind are meant to let people know that the resistance is alive,” says James.
Living in Mariupol under Russian occupation is a constant struggle. “Every day, you delete your messages because your phone can be checked at checkpoints. You’re afraid to call your friends in Ukraine in case your phone is being tapped,” James says. He describes the paranoia and fear that run through every interaction, and how even the smallest actions can lead to catastrophic consequences. “A person from a neighboring house was arrested right off the street because someone reported that he was allegedly passing information to the Ukrainian military,” he shares.
For Andrii Kozhushyna, the danger of staying in Mariupol became too great. “Perhaps a neighbor snitched on me. But once when I was at a store buying bread, I saw a soldier showing my photo to the cashier asking if they knew who the person was,” he recalls. Fearing for his safety, Andrii fled, traveling through Russia, Belarus, and eventually entering Ukraine from the north.
For those who remain in Mariupol, each day is filled with uncertainty. “You live under constant tension. You don’t know when you could be exposed, when your phone might be checked, or when the authorities could show up at your door,” says James.
As Ukraine and Russia continue to hold talks, there are whispers from both sides about potential compromises. But for the people of Mariupol, the idea of giving up their land, their home, is anathema. “Giving away territory for a ‘deal with Russia’ will be a betrayal,” says John. “Dozens risk their lives every day to pass information to Ukraine, not so that some diplomat in a suit will sign a paper that will ‘hand us over’.”
For the people of Mariupol, the fight is not just about land or borders—it’s about their identity, their right to exist as Ukrainians, and their desire to live free from oppression. The loss of Mariupol is felt deeply, but it is not the end. For those who remain in the city, and for those in the resistance, the struggle continues. “We don’t want ‘peace at any cost’. We want liberation,” says John.
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