#Mariupol

In the heart of Mariupol, where culture and community once flourished, the Drama Theatre became a symbol of tragedy. On March 16, 2022, it was obliterated by two Russian bombs, killing hundreds who sought refuge within its walls. Today, behind staged reconstructions and cultural propaganda, Russia tries to bury the truth.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fourth year—and its war against Ukraine stretches into its eleventh—cultural institutions worldwide continue to stage Russian performances.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, one of the Kremlin’s first targets was Mariupol. While the Ukrainian army tried to hold back the Russian advance, the city was being obliterated—tens of thousands of civilians were killed, and almost all residential buildings were reduced to rubble. Now, Moscow is attempting to convince the world that life in Mariupol has improved, portraying the destroyed city as “better than it was under Ukraine.”