Author DM Celley

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MARIUPOL

Mariupol in the Ukraine has made lots of news lately, most of which has been unfortunate owing to Russia’s recent invasion of the Ukraine.  Prior to the devastation that has taken place there in the last five weeks, what type of city was Mariupol?  Where was Mariupol located?  What was so important about it?

Founded in 1778:  Owing to its location on the north shore of the Azov Sea, Mariupol was often visited as far back as ancient times by various sea voyagers.  In 1780’s the area was settled by Christian Greeks, and several other European countries established ties providing for the growth of various ethnic groups bringing together a variety of cultural traditions.  This helped promote educational tendencies that continued until this year. 

Late 1890’s:  As railroads were built from Mariupol to other urban economic areas in the Donbas region, the area’s fish packing industry grew, followed by the exportation of coal through the city’s ports.  Mining nearby provided materials for metals manufacturing facilities to produce sheet metal, steel rails for railroads, oil pipelines, and other manufactured metal products. 

Twentieth century:   During the Second World War, the strategic location of Mariupol put it in harm’s way, as approximately eighty percent of the city including all of its industrial base was destroyed.  Upon the war’s end it was completely rebuilt, and the economic base returned to pre-war production levels by the end of the 1950’s.  The tourist industry developed thanks to the nearly ten miles of beach and pleasant climates with the warm sea that favored swimmers for four months per year.  Several sanitoriums were built also maximizing the fresher air and more pleasant climate than could be found in other nearby industrial urban areas.   Mariupol became a hub for scientific research with some twenty-one scientific research and development organizations leveraging the city’s institutions of higher education.  The city grew to a population of over 400,000 inhabitants.

The Russian Invasion of 2022:   In the wake of the Russian backed secessionist movement in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine in 2014, two states, Donetsk and Luhansk, were formed and recently recognized by Russia as independent from the Ukraine.  Neither of these two states included Mariupol, which remained a part of the Ukraine.  Further, the Ukraine never recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.  Mariupol is therefore strategic in Russia’s overall plan, as it lies in the way of a land bridge from the Donbas region to the Crimea on the Black Sea.

Mariupol’s political ties appeared to be just as close to neighboring Russia as they were to Ukraine.  In solidifying their strategic positions along the Eastern Ukraine border, the Russians apparently thought that Mariupol would fall easily into their control owing to the political ambivalence of the population.  But as of this writing, the Ukraine National Guard forces still hold the city. 

Tragedy is occurring as the invading forces are attacking urban population areas with artillery fire and aerial bombardments.  It is estimated that only about 100,000 inhabitants remain in Mariupol as relief organizations have managed to evacuate thousands to areas to the west of Donbas.  Those remaining could be trapped, as relief agencies such as the Red Cross have been blocked or hampered from entering the area.  The fighting rages on as reports are showing that foreign owned manufacturing facilities such as the Chinese Trader Cofco’s Sunflower Oil processing plant have been damaged.  At least one merchant ship has been reported sunk by missiles and/or artillery fire.  Large regions of the city have been leveled by bombings and artillery as evidenced by satellite photographs.  Some estimates indicate that the city is approximately ninety percent destroyed, and major portions of the infrastructure are so badly damaged they cannot be replaced.  The Russian military has recently announced that they are undertaking a new, final, offensive to capture Mariupol after their deadline for Ukrainian defenders to surrender elapsed.  Although progress in peace talks between Russia and the Ukraine have shown some promise, no solution appears to be close enough to save Mariupol from capture and perhaps complete destruction.

Conclusion:  This once vibrant seaside city with a diverse ethnic background and vibrant industrial base could be on the brink of total destruction from this brutal war.  The city with its center of scientific research along with art institutes and a half dozen or more museums and galleries all could wind up in shambles.  Hundreds of thousands have managed to escape, but with major destruction to basic infrastructure, how long will it take for Mariupol to rebuild to its former self after this war is finally over.

Sources:         worldatlas.com/cities/mariupol-ukraine.html.

                        Mariupol’s splintering loyalties may be enough for Putin, by Marc                                     

Champion and Daryna Krasnolutska, Bloomberg news.

                        newsnow.com.

                        An Uncertain Outlook, The Economist, March 26, 2022.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *