Much is still unclear about the bombing that would have hit the theater. Much information cannot be independently verified. Mariupol’s municipal authorities say Russian troops “deliberately” destroyed the building in the center of the city. “A terrible and inhumane act,” the city council reported via Telegram.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claims that hundreds of people were hiding in the building at the time of the bombing. It accuses Russia of a war crime. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it cannot rule out “that the attack was aimed at a military target in the area.” According to the human rights organization, the theater could seat “at least five hundred civilians.”
There are no reports of injuries or deaths yet. A Ukrainian MP tells the BBC that he hopes the death toll is not too bad because civilians are said to have been hiding in a specially developed bunker under the theater. That should provide adequate protection against the bombardment. However, due to the rubble, authorities have not yet been able to reach the people.