Mariupol, located in the Donetsk Oblast on the Sea of Azov, has been under Russian occupation since May 2022. The Ukrainian city authorities, who evacuated to territories controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, described Sunday's event as “singing and dancing on bones.” Workers working on the reconstruction of the theater said that the bodies of the deceased were covered with concrete.
“The 'reconstruction' of the theater is a cynical attempt to erase the traces of a war crime and is part of the aggressive policy of Russification of the city. The theater's repertoire consists largely of plays by Russian writers,” the Ukrainian city authorities said in the Telegram messenger.
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Where did the first performance take place after the theater was rebuilt?
When did the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater take place?
How many people could have died as a result of the attack on the theater?
What are the accusations against Russian troops regarding Mariupol?
War in Ukraine. Mariupol razed to the ground
Mariupol was besieged by Russian troops from March to May 2022. The Russians almost completely razed the city to the ground and are accused of committing crimes against the civilian population there. Ukrainian authorities estimate that at least 22,000 may have died there. people.
According to the Associated Press, the first civilians began to gather in the building of the Dramatic Theater in early March 2022. On March 16, a probably 500-kilogram air bomb was dropped on the facility, although there was a large “Children” sign in front of the theater intended to protect the civilian population from attack.
Russian troops took control of the city shortly after the attack on the theater. As reported by the AP agency, bulldozers razed the building to the ground and the rubble was taken to the outskirts of Mariupol. Russian authorities rejected accusations of bombing the theater and said the explosion occurred inside the building.
According to the Associated Press, about 600 people could have died as a result of the attack, while earlier estimates given by the Ukrainian side were about 300 deaths.
