[MayeulC]

Russia's goal with Mariupol seems to be razing the damaged parts of the city to cover up the destruction and their war crimes (see the mariupol theater), and rebuild new buildings on top, to proclaim that it's now a much better city under russian leadership.

Of course, ukraine would probably have razed or reconstructed these buildings, but the russian way seems to be explicitly done as a cover-up and propaganda operation.

I really doubt they can afford that level of public spending in other cities, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that these construction projects only cover a small portion of the destroyed buildings. To say nothing about the quality of the hastily constructed flats.