German companies help Russia with construction in occupied Mariupol - media

Companies from Germany are involved in the restoration of Mariupol, which was destroyed by Russian troops and captured during Russia's war against Ukraine. These are the conclusions of journalists of the Monitor program of the German public-legal TV channel ARD. This was reported by DW, according to UNN.

Details

The publication says that when looking for evidence of German companies' participation in the restoration of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was destroyed during the war and occupied by the Russian armed forces and declared Russian, journalists relied on the websites of construction companies, business documentation, photos and videos.

In particular, many construction sites in Mariupol use cement produced by Knauf, they noted. According to ARD, Knauf currently employs 4,000 people in Russia and generates billions of dollars in turnover in the Russian market. At the request of the editorial office, the company said that it condemns Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and complies with all EU sanctions against Russia. Knauf products manufactured in Russia are intended exclusively for the Russian market, the press service added. No answers were received to the extensive list of questions submitted by the company's editorial board.

The chairman of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, Roderich Kiesewetter, condemned the participation of German companies in construction work in the occupied city, believing that their services benefit the war, which violates international law: "In the case of Knauf, this is very obvious, because they are really cementing the Russian government in the occupied regions, particularly in Mariupol.

Addendum

In addition, in photos and videos of construction sites in Mariupol, ARD journalists noticed concrete blocks in green packaging film bearing the name of the German company WKB Systems from the Munsterland region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Among other things, this company equips concrete block production plants.

The company's main shareholder is Russian businessman Viktor Budarin. "Customs data available to the Monitor show that WKB Systems GmbH has been supplying entire plants for factories producing such aerated concrete blocks to one of Budarin's Russian companies for a number of years - apparently the same company whose products Russia is using to consolidate its power in Mariupol," the investigation says.

Recall

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demanded explanations from the German TV channel ZDF in connection with the trip of its journalist to occupied Mariupol to shoot a report that distorts reality and contributes to Russian propaganda.