Mariupol is the 10th biggest city in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, it is more known for being the city with the most polluted air in Ukraine and Europe (by pollution coming from the stationary sources).
The main reason for this unflattering title is the bad location of two industrial units: metallurgic factory “Azovstal” and chemical factory “Markokhim” (which in 2005 was unified with “Azovstal”). Due to the prevalent wind rose in Mariupol, most emissions from these factories are carried directly to the central areas of the city.
Below is the video illustrating the magnitude of the city’s environmental problem. Camera overlooking the city’s residential area records the timelapse of 1 hour (sped up to 1 min 20 sec).
Pictures of Mariupol
And here is the city itself…
Comments of Ukrainian and Russian netizens
MrHanniballLekter: That’s Mordor!
maugli: Smoke from the factory means that the city is alive.Завод дымит, значит город живёт.





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They need to invite their president for weekend,maybe it will help… Horrible city.
Or, do what they’ve done in the past, abandon the city entirely and move everyone elsewhere. How anyone can live in that city is beyond me. I remember visiting Donetsk and thinking that only a lunatic would live in that polluted city, but it looks like paradise in comparison.
Wow. Amazing that people let it get so bad….
Oh, No! Hell might be better than Mariupol.
Poor people. How can they live there without doing something?
I guess that the bribery in this city must be beyond our imagination too.
I think that there is obvious corruption related to the management of this factory.
Someone operates this factory beyond any imaginable standards and gets away with it.
Well… not exactly someone. Owner of this factory is the Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinat_Akhmetov ).
What does Wikipedia write about him?
Ahha!
There have been claims Akmetov has been involved in organized crime. In January 2008 Akhmetov won a London libel court case “for damage to his reputation” for such claims, while claims about an alleged “criminal past” have been retracted by media.
P.S. Akhmetov is, by the way, the owner of football club Shakhtar (football seems to be the biggest hobby of Russian oligarchs)
Akhmetov is also the puppet master that pulls Yanukovych’s strings.
I have left this awful city 4 years ago, but my parents still there. I m so greatful i managed to leave this dirtiest place!! I wish everyone does it. Its really bad place to live
It looks how Moscow did during the fires in the summer of 2010. White paper masks became the norm and breathing at night was strained. Also, oligarchs always seem to appear somewhere in the background of major pollution and corruption in Russia (and the Ukraine as well I guess!)
I been in Mariupol in 1978 really it was a golden time for me as I was so young(20). had a training at Azovestal Iron&Steel plant,through Pakistan-Steel.
I am very surprised to know about the environmental situation, even then Azovestal is the best place because I left many memories over there. Still I am looking one missing family (was compositor at Azovestal cultural club) yori vasilivich mitko. His wife was also working there her name was Larisa Ischipana. If you can help to find them I will be very greatfull to you.
please help me to find a family headed by Mr.Vassilivich Mitko resident of:-
House No:- 69
Flat No:- 28
Street :- Victory
City :- Mariupol(Yazdanove)