2026-01-01 20:40
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2026-01-01 20:40
The first performance after the reconstruction of this cultural institution by the occupation authorities was held at the Drama Theater in occupied Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, where up to several hundred civilians could have died as a result of Russian bombing in March 2022, the AP agency reported on Monday.
Mariupol, located in the Donetsk Oblast on the Sea of Azov, has been under Russian occupation since May 2022.
Ukrainian city authorities, who evacuated to territories controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, described Sunday's event as “singing and dancing on bones.”
“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.
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 Drama Theater building 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 to protect civilians from attack.
This is the Mariupol theater where Russians intentionally bombed hundreds of people sheltering. They poured concrete over the bodies and 'renovated it'. Now, they're having an opening party. Dancing on mass graves. russia is a deeply sick and evil society. pic.twitter.com/mfkB6mKUFX
— Caolan (@CaolanReports) December 30, 2025
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 transported 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. (PAP)
awm/ap/
