The restored Mariupol Drama Theater, which had been reduced to a roofless structure filled with rubble almost four years ago, was officially reopened to the public on Sunday (28).
Denis Pushilin, Moscow’s designated leader for the , and Saint Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov were among the guests.
Authorities said St. Petersburg, Mariupol’s sister city, played a key role in restoring the destroyed theater.
where hundreds of civilians were killed in a Russian airstrike on March 16, 2022, was part of a prolonged Russian siege of the southern port city that held out for more than two months but also resulted in a power grab that left much of the infrastructure in ruins.
Civilians had taken refuge in the theater and the Russian word for “Children” had been painted on the floor in large white letters, visible from the air.
Russia denies attacking civilians. At the time, its Defense Ministry accused the Azov Battalion, a militia that is part of Ukraine’s armed forces, of having blown up the theater.
although some estimates point to a higher number of victims. Officials say the cleanup of the site was part of an attempt by Russia to remove evidence.
