Russia to reopen Mariupol Drama Theater destroyed by russian aircraft on New Year's holidays - The Times

Russia is preparing a "grand opening" of the Mariupol Drama Theater, the same building that its own aviation destroyed in March 2022. This is reported by The Times.

Despite the large sign "CHILDREN" on the square, hundreds of civilians seeking shelter there were killed in the rubble.

Russian authorities are reportedly calling the restoration of the theater a "revival of the city." The first performances are planned for the New Year holidays.

The restoration of the destroyed building was carried out by a company from St. Petersburg. At the same time, the Kremlin categorically denies that an air strike on the theater took place. The Ukrainian side calls these actions blasphemy and an attempt to cover up a war crime. As stated by the Mariupol City Council, the occupiers immediately fenced off the site of the tragedy after seizing the city to prevent access to the bodies of the victims.

Recall that the prosecutor's office served a suspicion in absentia on the russian general who ordered the bombing of the drama theater and the maternity hospital during the fighting in Mariupol.

In March 2022, russian troops dropped an air bomb on the building of the Mariupol Drama Theater in the Donetsk Region, where civilians were present at the time.

Later, in the temporarily occupied Mariupol, the invaders demanded to pour concrete over the remains of those killed in the Drama Theater. In September 2022, the occupiers announced the "reconstruction" of the Mariupol Drama Theater, destroyed by russian bombs, and closed it with metal shields.

In December 2022, it was reported that the occupiers demolished half of the Drama Theater, while dismantling only those parts of the building that prove the bombing.

Russian Colonel Sergei Atroshchenko was the man who ordered the bombing of the Drama Theater, maternity hospital and children's hospital in Mariupol.