Russian occupying forces to stage Russian plays in Mariupol theater they destroyed with aerial bomb - Euromaidan Press

Russian Occupying Forces to Stage Plays in Mariupol Theater They Destroyed

The Mariupol City Council reported that Russian occupation authorities have completed what they call the "restoration" of the drama theater destroyed by Russian forces in March 2022. The building is set to reopen in December for Russian-language performances.

Tragic History of the Theater

On 16 March 2022, a Russian aerial bomb hit the drama theater in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians sought refuge amid heavy bombardments. Estimates of casualties vary — city authorities cited around 300 deaths, while an Associated Press investigation suggested up to 600 people may have died.

Aftermath and Attempts to Conceal Evidence

Following the capture of Mariupol, occupation officials claimed to have removed debris from the theater, yet determining the true number of victims remains impossible. Reports from local sources and journalists reveal disturbing efforts to hide the scale of the tragedy.

Journalist Yuriy Butusov released intercepted conversations of a Russian burial team in Mariupol discussing the use of tractors and other equipment to remove bodies from the theater.
The Mariupol City Council reported that occupation "investigators" alleged the smell of corpses came not from victims of the bombing, but from a supposed storehouse of rotten fish.

Occupation’s Cultural Agenda

The reopening of the ruined theater for Russian performances is being portrayed by the occupying authorities as a symbol of "restoration." For Mariupol residents, however, it stands as a haunting reminder of one of the war's most devastating attacks on civilians.

Author’s Summary

The theater’s reopening under occupation forces turns a site of mass tragedy into propaganda, masking the destruction and loss that marked its history.

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Euromaidan Press Euromaidan Press — 2025-11-02

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