Nearly 500 city officials, over 30 utility machinery units involved in protective works in Mariupol – Mayor

Nearly 500 city authority employees and over 30 units of utility machinery are currently involved in protective works near Mariupol (Donetsk region), Mayor Yuriy Khotlubey told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Smelters, 'Azovmash,' commercial sea port, dockyard, all public utilities companies such as heat distribution network, 'Vodokanal' and 'Zelendbud' are involved. Both equipment and people are working on these objects. Today nearly 500 people are working particularly from the city [authorities]. Nearly 30 units of equipments are involved," he said in Mariupol on Tuesday.

In addition, Khotlubey said tourist numbers had fallen in 2015 and the citizens of the city continue to be worried.

"But our smelters are working, not at full capacity, as there're after all issues with raw material supply. However, people are working, some companies even raised salaries. The port works as well but at a smaller capacity," he said,

He added that city public utilities companies are working twice as much, saying "in addition to usual works on maintenance of the city, they are also fully involved at the protective works."