The Foreign Ministry recalled that Russia then dropped an aerial bomb on a theater where people were hiding from shelling, deliberately turning it into a mass grave, which is a clear war crime. Three years later, Russia organized dances, concerts and celebrations at the site of the tragedy, which the Foreign Ministry called deliberate terror and an attempt to evade responsibility.
“The word ‘children’ was written in front of the theater to make it absolutely clear that civilians, including the youngest residents of Mariupol, were hiding inside from a Russian attack. For Russia, this did not become a reason to stop, but on the contrary, another reason to strike,” the department said.
The Ukrainian department called on the international community to hold Russia accountable for the murder of innocent people and for committing genocide against the Ukrainian people.
In March 2022, Russia claimed the territory of the bombing of the Mariupol drama theater, where there were people who were members – children among them. It is a distinctive point of view that this place is in mass grave, committing a blatant war crime.
The word “CHILDREN” was written before… pic.twitter.com/Ce6KnICY8g
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) December 30, 2025
Context
An Associated Press investigation published May 4, 2022, said the theater bombing killed nearly 600 people in and around the building.
Satellite images from the American company Maxar Technologies recorded that near the theater on which the occupiers dropped a bomb, there were large inscriptions “Children”.
On July 1, 2022, it was reported that the international human rights organization Amnesty International conducted an investigation into the Russian attack on the drama theater in Mariupol and concluded that it was a war crime.
On December 19, 2025, the Mariupol City Council informed that the Russians had opened the sale of tickets for a comedy performance and a children's performance.
