A theater that was devastated during one of the most infamous assaults of Russia’s siege on Mariupol in early 2022 has recently reopened after undergoing renovations, Russian officials announced on Sunday. This event is part of the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to highlight reconstruction in the regions of Ukraine it occupies.
State media aired a ceremony celebrating the theater’s reopening, showcasing performers from both Mariupol and St. Petersburg, along with the theater’s restored marble staircase, columns, and a grand 2.5-ton crystal chandelier now adorning the auditorium.
“The Mariupol Drama Theatre has once again opened its doors to the audience,” stated Denis Pushilin, the pro-Moscow leader of the Donetsk region. He noted that while the theater’s “historical appearance” had been restored, modern equipment had also been incorporated into the venue.
Authorities had initially planned for the reopening to occur the previous Wednesday, but this was postponed without clarification, shifting the event to Sunday instead.
In the early stages of Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, its forces took control of Mariupol, a vital port city on the Sea of Azov, subjecting it to a siege that lasted nearly three months and resulted in widespread destruction and significant loss of life.
Human Rights Watch reported at least 8,000 civilian fatalities, whereas the city’s exiled municipal council claims the death toll exceeds 22,000.
During the siege, the Mariupol Drama Theatre was struck by a Russian airstrike, with reports suggesting that up to 600 individuals lost their lives in this incident, which Russian officials attributed to Ukrainian forces.
Amnesty International confirmed that at least 12 people died but indicated that the toll could be far higher, as the bombing occurred despite clear indications that civilians were taking refuge inside the theater.
St. Petersburg played a pivotal role in the theater’s restoration, dispatching teams of workers and architects to Mariupol. Governor Alexander Beglov, who was present at Sunday’s reopening, referred to the project as “a matter of honor.”
As reported by the St. Petersburg media outlet Bumaga, around 13 billion rubles (approximately $169 million) were estimated to have been allocated for the theater’s renovation from a local governmental fund.
The UN has noted that nearly 90% of Mariupol’s structures sustained damage or were completely destroyed during the Russian siege in early 2022, leading to the exodus of roughly 300,000 residents from a pre-war population of around 540,000.
Since taking over Mariupol, Russia has attempted to portray it as a symbol of reconstruction within the Ukrainian territories it occupies.
Contributions to this report were provided by AFP.
