This is the same theatre that was bombed even after the word ‘children’ was spelt outside
130 people are thought to have been evacuated from a theatre in the city of Mariupol following Russian airstrikes on March 16.
The building in question has been sheltering civilians ever since the Russian invasion began on February 24 and was said to be housing more than 1,200 people, many of which were children. It is thought over 1,300 are still trapped in the rubble.
‼️WARNING
130 people were rescued from under the rubbles of the destroyed Drama Theater in #Mariupol. Yet, more than 1,300 remain trapped in the basements.— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) March 18, 2022
As you can see, Ukraine‘s parliament tweeted an update on the situation in Mariupol which has been one of the worst-hit by shelling and invading ground forces.
The basements in question contain the bomb shelters which are thought to have withstood the initial blasts but have left those still alive trapped underneath the debris.
Russian artillery brought down a barrage on the building earlier this week, despite aerial footage revealing a large message that had been written outside the walls informing the enemy that innocent “children” were present in the building.
Although rescue work is underway at the site, Ukraine’s human ombudsmen Lyudmyla Denisova said she could not give any clear indication as to the exact number still down there and how many survived the attack – as reported in Reuters.
While Russia still denies having coordinated the attack on the Ukrainian theatre, which was clearly signposted as sheltering innocent women and children, the damage is clear to see and President Vladimir Putin was officially declared a war criminal shortly after.
As of best estimates on Sunday, it was reported that at least 636 civilians have died in the conflict and thousands more injured.
Related links:
- Russian soldiers in Ukraine are ‘shooting themselves in the leg’ so they can be discharged, reports say
- No, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy did hold up a jersey with a Nazi symbol on
- Ukrainian actress dies in Russian rocket attack on Kyiv residential building
