"Dead to me' Russia's idea of rebirth rings hollow in Mariupol

Shaun Walker Kyiv Pjotr Sauer Artem Mazhulin The Mariupol Drama theatre, destroyed in a Russian airstrike in 2022 while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, has reopened its doors, with Russian occupation authorities heralding the reconstruction as a sign of renewal.

- Shaun Walker Kyiv Pjotr Sauer Artem Mazhulin

Former actors at the theatre, however, denounce the reopening as "dancing on bones".

The Kremlin has made the reconstruction of Mariupol calling card of its rule in occupied Ukraine, but

Russia's oversight is accompanied by arrests or exile of critics of Moscow, along with property seizures that have stripped thousands of Ukrainians of their homes.

The theatre was due to open last night with a performance of The Scarlet Flower, a Russian fairytale, after the building was rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years. "The theatre is being reborn together with Mariupol. Russian and Soviet classics have returned to the stage," the theatre said in a statement.

Evgeny Sosnovsky, a Mariupol photographer who worked extensively with the theatre, but moved to Kyiv after the Russian takeover, views the rebirth of the venue differently.

"I can't think of any other word for it than cynicism," he said.

"There should be a memorial at the site in memory of the Mariupol residents who died during Russia's capture of the city, not an entertainment venue." The strike on the theatre remains one of the most notorious incidents of Russia's war in Ukraine, with the building targeted despite the fact that "CHILDREN" had been painted in block letters in the square in front of it. At least a dozen people are confirmed to have died, but the real number is likely much higher.

Russia has denied hitting the theatre and claimed the damage was caused by an explosion detonated inside the building, but several independent investigations have suggested Russian air bombs were responsible. Amnesty International concluded that the devastation was "likely caused by Russian forces deliberately targeting Ukrainian civilians" and said the attack should be investigated as a war crime.