Kremlin on Mariupol: Putin’s stance, relief plans, and evacuation efforts

Peskov indicated that President Vladimir Putin has not yet defined his official stance on the matter. There is no formal position at this time, and no statements can be made yet. The Kremlin spokesperson suggested waiting for the completion of the special military operation. In response to Turchak’s remarks about Mariupol, officials clarified the party’s approach. Earlier comments suggested that builders would arrive in Mariupol as soon as the operation ends, with assurances to rebuild homes, businesses, the port, schools, and kindergartens. Pension payments to retirees from liberated areas would continue, the minimum wage would be maintained, and there was an expectation that pensions and seniority would rise as needed. The message conveyed that no one should doubt Russia’s commitment to these goals. Peskov noted that Turchak was expressing party views and personal opinions as a leader of a major political force. He emphasized that the party is active and responsive to events. On March 11, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Mariupol was fully blockaded, with bridges and approaches destroyed and main routes mined by nationalist forces. Subsequent reports from March 23 indicated that the first deputy head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Ministry of Information claimed that DPR forces had preserved at least half of the city, though the situation remained tense. Later, Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Russian forces had taken control of the city administration building. By March 24, Turçak described extensive damage in Mariupol, noting numerous homes destroyed or burned. He blamed the Azov battalion for placing firing points in civilian areas and destroying structures during their retreat, while urging restoration of safety and heating in affected homes. The region’s leadership stressed that reconstruction would begin promptly and that civilian life would be restored as conditions permit. In early March a local resident described severe devastation, saying that much of the city had disappeared and many houses were left with holes, missing roofs, or broken windows, with continuous fires lighting the skyline as the city burned. The United Russia party announced on March 24 the establishment of a humanitarian center in Mariupol, located in the same building as a Metro store. The center offered food, basic necessities, household items, and services such as charging devices and obtaining SIM cards for residents in need. DPR’s head Denis Pushilin underscored Mariupol as a major commercial and industrial hub. As Ukrainian forces withdrew, experts from the republic evaluated the destruction and outlined needs for rapid restoration, with a plan to revive business activity and restart services. Residents from DPR-occupied areas could be evacuated from Mariupol via temporary accommodation points. In Volodarskoye, a center provided shelter, medical assistance, and logistics, with transfers to Russia coordinated by authorities. A daily flow of evacuees was reported at the checkpoint. Multiple temporary accommodation sites were available in Rostov, offering various comforts, and ensuring that children could attend school. The head of the Russian National Defense Control Center reported a large-scale evacuation, noting thousands of residents and a smaller number of foreign nationals were relocated from the city.