Russia destroys unique historical monument in Mariupol - Andriushchenko

"Russians are destroying the largest historical monument not only in Mariupol but in Ukraine and the world... The sprawling hill has a current height of six and a half meters and a diameter of 70 meters. The Kurhan Did dates back to the 5th millennium BC, which means it is much older than the city and is the same age as the Egyptian Pyramids," Andriushchenko wrote. 

The mayor's advisor published footage showing how the Russian occupiers are destroying the city's historical monument with excavators. 

Background. The Kurhan Did is an archaeological site on the northwestern outskirts of the city of Mariupol in the Central District. The mound is known from ancient maps and is marked with its name. The sprawling hill is of scientific and historical interest only, as it is a contemporary of the world-famous pyramids of Ancient Egypt. The Did mound is an earthen but architectural structure. It was created in its time from pieces of soil with grass. No matter how big the mound was, it was made of fertile soil, which is what makes it different from natural hills.

• In August 2022, it was reported that the Russian invaders in Mariupol intended to destroy the Kurhan Did.