Local people often call the southern Ukrainian city Mariupol, ‘Marik’. This affectionate nickname reminds us of the city’s culture, which includes Greek, Tatar, Jewish traditions, as well as an industrial culture, notable landscapes and the coastline of the Sea of Azov.
Before the war, many people from Donetsk would travel the four hours to Mariupol by train, to enjoy the sea views and, let’s be honest, the city’s delicious chebureks, a traditional Crimean Tatar dish made of fresh dough and fillings, which were sold at a small seaside cafe not far from the railway crossing bridge. The city’s remarkable landscapes appear in paintings by the prominent Pontic Greek and Ukrainian artist, Arkhip Kuindzhi. Recently, the local museum named after Kuindzhi was damaged during the shelling. It’s not yet known how many artworks were lost.
Today, Marik is under blockade by Russian forces. We don’t not yet have a clear picture yet of the horrors that have befallen the city. People have had to walk long distances at their own risk to try to evacuate and survive.
