"With songs and dancing": Russians reopen Mariupol drama theatre that they destroyed
The Russians in temporarily occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast have officially reopened the rebuilt Drama Theatre, staging a festive concert that was attended by officials from Russia and Denis Pushilin, leader of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic".
Source: Mariupol City Council
Details: Mariupol City Council has reported that the opening was attended by St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and Vladimir Mashkov, an actor and head of the Russian Union of Theatre Workers, who openly supports Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Quote from Mariupol City Council: "It has emerged that despite the reopening, New Year performances planned to be held in the building have been cancelled. The occupation authorities have said that the shows will instead take place at the philharmonic hall. They gave no reasons for their decision."
More details: On 16 March 2022, Russian forces dropped two 500kg aerial bombs on the Mariupol Drama Theatre, where hundreds of people who had lost their homes in the war were sheltering. The number of people killed that day remains unconfirmed.
The word "Children" had been written in large letters in front of and behind the building so that it would be visible to Russian pilots.
The Russian occupation authorities later demolished the theatre building, leaving the facade as a supposed "basis for reconstruction".
They completed the exterior repairs in August 2025, claiming that the interior finishing works were ongoing. There were plans to stage the first performance there by the end of the year.
Quote: "The new building is only an imitation of the theatre that was destroyed. The sculptures, damaged through the workers' incompetence, are of poor quality. The original theatre's facade was not plastered, but faced in white Crimean stone brought in by sea. The occupation authorities have just painted over brick walls."
Background:
- In November, it was reported that the Russians in temporarily occupied Mariupol planned to reopen the Drama Theatre.
- In December, the Russians put up the city's main Christmas tree outside the Drama Theatre.
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