Mariupol residents deny Russian stories about the city

“What they show on Russian TV is tales for fools. Most of Mariupol still lies in ruins,” he says. We changed his name because there was a fear of retaliation from Russian officials.

“They repair the facades of the buildings on the main streets, bringing the cameras to shoot. But there is rubble and space around the corner. Many people still live in almost semi -destroyed apartments that still stand the walls,” he says.

More than three years have passed since then Mariupol taken by Russian forces After a brutal siege and random bombardment, an important moment in the first months of Russia’s full-scale Ukraine invasion.

Thousands of people were killed and UN estimated 90% of the housing buildings were damaged or destroyed.

In recent months, a few pro -Russian impressive videos and reels have drawn a picture of a bright city where damaged structures are repaired and life returns to normal.

However, BBC, to bring together real what life is like in the city, some of them still live in Mariupol, some of the people living in Mariupol – some of the people living in Mariupol – some of them.

Olha Onyshko, a 66 -year -old Olha Onyshko, who fled Mariupol in the late last year and now lives in the ternopil of Ukraine, says, “There are too many lies that float around.”

“Them [Russian authorities] They repaired many things. There is a central square – only the buildings there were rebuilt. There are also empty spaces where buildings stop. They cleaned the wrecks, but they did not even separate the dead bodies, they were only loaded into rubble trucks and they left the city, “he adds.

Mariupol is also faced with severe water continents.

“Water flows for one or two days, then it doesn’t come for three days. We hold buckets and water boxes at home. The color of the water is so yellow, even after boiling, it’s scary to drink,” says another Mariupol resident.

Some even said that the water looked like “Coca Cola”.

Serhii Orlov, who calls him Mariupol’s Deputy Mayor in exile, says that the Siverskyi Donets – Donbas Channel, which provides water to the city during the war, was damaged.

Serhii, “Mariupol supplied only one reservoir water. It would last for about one and a half years for the existing population. The occupation means that there is no drinking water longer. The water using water does not even meet the minimum drinking water standard.” Says Serhii.

There are often power cuttings, foods are expensive and medications are small, residents tell us.

“There are no basic drugs.

The BBC reached Mariupol’s Russian administration because they could find an alternative resource for famine and whether they could find an alternative resource for water. We have no answer so far.

Despite the difficulties, the most difficult part of living in the city says that residents watch what Ukrainian children are taught at school.

Andrii Kozhushyna studied at a university in Mariupol for a year after the occupation. Now he fled to Dnipro.

“They teach children the wrong information and propaganda to children.

He also told students about the “Speeches About Important Things”, where Russia was taught in 2022 how these regions saved the Russian -speaking population from the Nazis.

“Teachers who refuse to take these lessons are scaring or firing. As if they are reorganizing our children’s minds,” Mariupol said John.

During the celebrations of the Second World War Victory Day in May, the images from Mariupol’s Central Square are implemented in the occupied regions where children and adults who participated in the military costumes participating in the parade and performances of the Central Square. Mariupol was washed in the colors of the Russian flag – red, blue and white.

However, some Ukrainians show a secret resistance to Russia and spray blue and yellow colors on the walls at the death of the night, and also paste the brochures with messages such as “Mariupol” and “Mariupol Ukraine”.

James and John are members of resistance groups such as Andrii while living in the city.

“Messages mean moral support for our people to declare that resistance is alive,” James says.

The main objectives are to gather intelligence for the Ukrainian army.

James, “I document the information about the Russian military movements. Where they carried weapons, how many soldiers entered the city and abandoned, and what equipment in our industrial areas are repaired. I secretly take photos and keep them secretly until I convey them to the Ukrainian intelligence.”

From time to time, resistance groups also try to sabotage civil or military operations. At least twice, the railway line was broken to Mariupol because the signal box was set on fire by activists.

A risky study. Andrii said he had to leave when he realized he was exposed.

“Maybe a neighbor came on me. But once in a store that bought bread, I saw a soldier who asked me who they didn’t know who he was.” He said.

He left immediately, traveled through Belarus before crossing Mariupol’s checkposts and then in many cities in Russia and entering Ukraine from North.

A challenge every day for those who are still in the city.

James, “You delete your messages every day because your phone can be checked at the checkpoints. If your phone is touched, you are afraid to call your friends in Ukraine,” he says.

“A person from a neighboring house was arrested from the street because someone reported that he had conveyed information to the Ukrainian army. Your life is like a film – a constant tension, fear, insecurity,” he adds.

As the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia continue, there are suggestions that he should accept the land in exchange for a peace agreement inside and outside Ukraine.

“It will be a betrayal to give the region for ‘agreement with Russia’. He will risks dozens of lives at risk to transfer information to Ukraine, so that a diplomat in a suit will surrender us’ will sign a paper.” Says.

“We do not want peace at any cost. We want salvation.”

Additional reports by ImoGen Anderson, Anastasiia Levchenko, Volodymyr Lozhko and Sanjay Ganguly