In Ukraine, the date of the occupation of Mariupol has been updated for historical justice.

The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development has updated the date of temporary occupation of Mariupol.

According to the new document, the date of the temporary occupation of the city is set for May 21, 2022. On that day, according to the information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mariupol was completely occupied by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Previously, the date of completion of active hostilities in the city was March 4, 2022.

'This decision is about historical justice and recognition of the real circumstances of the heroic defense of Mariupol. It is important for our military and for the residents of the city who endured the blockade and shelling. This is a step towards honesty in the assessment of events, and I thank everyone who contributed to this process: from the military and local authorities to representatives of central authorities,' said Oleksii Riabikin, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development.

We remind you that on April 4, 2025, the Ministry of Development appealed to the Donetsk Regional Military Administration with a request to clarify the date of the temporary occupation of the city of Mariupol and the Mariupol district. In response, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that fighting for the city continued until May 18, 2022, and from May 21, Mariupol is considered completely occupied.

The updated order will not affect payments for internally displaced persons, but will allow eliminating injustice regarding people who became disabled during the active hostilities until May 20, 2022.

Analysis:

The update of the date of temporary occupation of Mariupol is an important step towards historical justice and recognition of the heroic defense of the city. This decision is significant for the military and residents of Mariupol who faced hardships during the blockade and shelling. The updated order is also designed to eliminate injustices for people affected by hostilities. It is important to note that this decision will not affect payments for internally displaced persons, but will allow businessmen to avoid injustices related to receiving disabilities before May 20, 2022.