Resurrection of Culture: Mariupol Theater Reopens Amid Reconstruction Efforts in Occupied Region

A theater that was ravaged in one of the most infamous assaults during Russia’s siege of Mariupol in early 2022 has reopened after undergoing reconstruction, according to Russian officials on Sunday. The Kremlin is actively promoting reconstruction efforts in areas of occupied Ukraine.

State television aired a reopening ceremony that featured performances from artists in Mariupol and St. Petersburg, highlighting the theater’s restored marble staircase, columns, and a 2.5-ton crystal chandelier in the auditorium.

“The Mariupol Drama Theatre has opened its doors to the audience again,” announced Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-supported leader of the Donetsk region. He emphasized that the theater’s “historic appearance” has been revitalized along with the incorporation of modern facilities.

Authorities had previously stated that the reopening was scheduled for last Wednesday, but that day passed without any announcements. The reason for the rescheduling to Sunday remains unclear.

Russian forces seized Mariupol, a key port city on the Sea of Azov, in the early stages of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, imposing a nearly three-month-long siege that resulted in widespread destruction and thousands of civilian casualties.

Human Rights Watch has estimated that at least 8,000 civilians lost their lives, while the Ukrainian municipal council in exile has placed the death toll at over 22,000.

During the siege, the Mariupol Drama Theatre was struck by a Russian airstrike. The Associated Press reported that as many as 600 individuals may have perished in the attack, which Russian officials attributed to Ukrainian forces.

Amnesty International confirmed at least 12 fatalities but suggested that the actual number was likely higher, pointing out that the bombing occurred even though there were clear indicators that civilians were taking refuge inside the building.

St. Petersburg was instrumental in the theater’s reconstruction, sending teams of workers and architects to Mariupol. Governor Alexander Beglov, who was present at the reopening on Sunday, described the project as “a matter of honor.”

As reported by the St. Petersburg news source Bumaga, the reconstruction is estimated to have cost up to 13 billion rubles (approximately $169 million) from a local government fund.

The UN reported that around 90% of Mariupol’s structures were either damaged or destroyed during the Russian siege in early 2022, with roughly 300,000 people fleeing the city, which had a pre-war population of about 540,000.

Since the capture of Mariupol, Russia has aimed to present the city as a symbol of reconstruction in the Ukrainian territories it occupies.

Reporting contributed by AFP.