Around 30% of Mariupol residents return to occupied territories - Ukrainian official

He reported this on Telegram.

"At least 30% of Mariupol residents are returning to the occupied areas, some for good. An even higher percentage is going back to other occupied cities and towns, where the destruction isn't as severe," Andriushchenko said.

He also provided statistics from the past year since Russia introduced a single entry point at Sheremetyevo airport for those returning to the occupied areas.

“At least 350,000 Ukrainians tried to enter. Of these, 100,000 to 130,000 were allowed in, while the rest were turned away. About 40% of those who entered left again after registering their property under new Russian rules and picking up their belongings. However, around 50,000 to 60,000 Ukrainians returned to the occupied areas for good," Andriushchenko said.

Andriushchenko also explained why some people are returning to the occupied territories.

"From September 2023 to February 2024, over 4 million internally displaced people were left without any state support. These 4 million were left to survive without housing, compensation, or any help. The largest wave of departures happened in February and March, not just from returnees but from others as well. This senseless government decision pushed people either abroad or into the occupied areas. Why? Try living on the street with a family of three. Can you survive? Or with a minimum wage of 10-15 thousand hryvnias – is that enough? Probably not. That’s why many refugees went to places where they at least have a roof over their heads. It's hard to blame someone for not wanting to be homeless," Andriushchenko wrote.

He also mentioned that people are still leaving Mariupol, but fewer are coming to Ukraine. Many are staying in EU countries instead.

• The Ukrainian guerrilla movement ‘Death to Russian Occupiers and Collaborators’ claimed that its representatives have established the location of the DPRK military in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region.