Russia seizing thousands of Ukrainian homes

Hello. Russia is seizing thousands of Ukrainian homes in the city of Mariupol as Moscow steps up efforts to "Russify" occupied territories. My colleagues from BBC Verify investigate. With the discovery of the "strongest evidence" yet of extra-terrestrial life, science correspondent Pallab Ghosh assesses what this could mean for humans. And finally, Sweden's annual elk migration draws millions of viewers.

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How Russia is seizing Ukrainian homes in occupied Mariupol

Russia’s siege left 93% of Mariupol’s high-rise buildings - 443 towers - destroyed or damaged, a study has found. Credit: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Thousands of homes are being seized from Ukrainian residents who fled Mariupol since Russia's devastating 86-day siege three years ago, an investigation by BBC Verify has found. In just nine months, 5,700 properties have been identified for seizure as part of a wider scheme to "Russify" the occupied city. Former residents say their homes are pretty much "impossible" to regain - to do so they would face a dangerous return to Mariupol, gruelling security checks and overwhelming pressure to accept a Russian passport. Mariupol officials failed to reply when approached for comment.

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