Mariupol’s “mayor” predicts that in the near future hundreds of thousands of “specialists who will develop the city” will be brought there from russia

“In Mariupol, very soon there will already be up to half a million people living”, - said russian official Anton Koltsov, appointed by the kremlin to govern the coastal city, to local journalists.

According to him, 330,000 people currently live in the city. “According to forecasts reflected in the master plan, we expect that within two to three years the population could almost double — to 500–550 thousand people”, - he said. “The city is eagerly awaiting… specialists who will develop the city”, - the “mayor” hopes.

In theory, the russian emissary admitted that Mariupol’s population could increase due to local residents returning to their hometown. At the same time, he acknowledged that the authorities so far cannot provide housing even for 5,500 families of native Mariupol residents who lost their homes and apartments as a result of russian aggression.

Local residents reacted skeptically to Koltsov’s plans. In comments to his statement, they wrote: “First actually provide people with housing, otherwise you’ve turned people into homeless. Repair industrial enterprises so that real jobs are created, proper medical care…” Until then, Mariupol residents have no doubt, those who left will not return to the city. If the population does increase, they are convinced, it will be due to settlers from various regions of russia. It is precisely for them that expensive commercial housing is being built.

“They might just fill it with migrants… Mortgages… they’ll welcome people from all over russia, as long as there’s money for this mortgage”, - Mariupol residents do not believe the “mayor’s” words.