Russia launches disinformation campaign about 'rebuilding' Mariupol

Kremlin propaganda outlets are disseminating stories about allegedly “restored apartment buildings,” “park renovations,” and the “repair of the Mariupol Drama Theater” — the same theater that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike in March 2022. At the time of the attack, hundreds of civilians, including women and children, were sheltering inside. Many were killed.

The key objective of the disinformation campaign is to create a positive image of Russia’s occupation authorities, particularly for Western audiences. The Center says Moscow is using foreign journalists loyal to the Kremlin, who have cooperated with Russian structures in occupied Ukrainian territories since the start of the full-scale invasion.

“By rebuilding select buildings and the theater, Russian propaganda is trying to create a showcase of the ‘Russian peace,’ while most occupied cities in Donbas lie in ruins, nearly depopulated and deprived of basic services,” CCD explained.

Analysts noted that Mariupol residents themselves report widespread loss of housing, the inability to obtain compensation for destroyed apartments, severe shortages of medical care, and pressure from the occupation administration.

In the temporarily occupied areas of Luhansk Oblast, residents face critical shortages of water, heating, and sanitation. In many apartment blocks, water is drained from heating systems, and any attempts to improve living conditions can result in fines imposed by occupation authorities.

Despite these conditions, Moscow has announced the launch of a program to “return population” to the occupied territories — a move Ukrainian analysts describe as an attempt to solidify its control over parts of Donbas, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson oblasts. Under this new migration strategy, the Kremlin plans to resettle populations under its own control.