Miejskie cmentarze
Street Cemeteries

Summary/Abstract: Since 24th February, when Russia commenced an unprovoked broadscale invasion of Ukraine, Mariupol suffered more than any other big city in the country. A significant part of Mariupol has been razed to the ground with bombs, rockets, missiles, and shells. Russian attacks impeded evacuation and for weeks tens of thousands of people sought shelter in basements and ruins without electricity or running water. The total number of fatalities in Mariupol, once a prosperous city of over 400 000 inhabitants, is not known. According to the mayor, it may amount to as many as 20 000–40 000. During the Russian occupation inhabitants have been forced to bury the bodies of their murdered relatives in yards, curtilages, playgrounds, and squares, since it was too dangerous for burials to take place in the city itself initially due to constant barrage and, later, street warfare. A certain funeral parlour displayed makeshift wooden caskets available to anyone and free of charge. In these tragic circumstances, public space in Mariupol appeared among ruins of obliterated city graves. Due to the fact that the Russians cover up traces of their crimes the inhabitants of Mariupol have been photographing all proofs of extermination. Many photos and videos are publicly available on the “Mariupol Now” Telegram channel. This is where I came upon the first photos of home graves; soon, I noticed on the Bellingcat Discord server an announcement demanding that burial sites be marked, so that families returning to Mariupol after the war could find their relatives. By basing ourselves on photos we commenced geolocating those spots where the inhabitants of Mariupol were forced to bury their dead.

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