Dancing on bones: Russians rebuild Mariupol theatre where kids died

by · Mail Online

Russia was accused of 'dancing on bones' last night as it reopened a Ukrainian theatre where sheltering civilians were killed in air strikes.

The Mariupol Drama Theatre in the port city of the same name was bombed by Russia in March 2022 weeks after its invasion of Ukraine.

Families would shelter in the basement of the impressive building which was one of the city's cultural landmarks.

The word 'children' was painted in huge letters outside the theatre in an effort to prevent it being targeted.

But international human rights organisations say 12 people were killed in Russian air attacks almost four years ago.

Ukrainians insist the total number of casualties is in the hundreds.

Russian forces later overwhelmed Ukrainian defences and have occupied Mariupol ever since.

The Kremlin restored the theatre and performances resumed there this week to widespread condemnation.

Russian forces have rebuilt the theatre at Mariupol which was bombed in 2022
The theatre was hit by bombs and Ukrainian officials claim 'hundreds' were killed in the blast
The word 'children' had been painted on the theatre to try to stop it from being bombed
Two Russian soldiers patrol the theatre. Russian forces have been accused of 'dancing on bones' of the civilians killed there after the theatre was reopened

Mariupol's Ukrainian city council, which fled the city when Russian forces arrived, called the reopening of the theatre 'singing and dancing on bones'. 

A spokesman added: 'The restoration of the theatre is a cynical attempt to conceal the traces of a war crime and part of an aggressive policy of Russification of the city. The repertoire consists largely of works by Russian writers and playwrights.'