Putin is accused of ‘dancing on bones’ after rebuilding Mariupol theatre where children were among hundreds killed when Kremlin forces blew it up while families sheltered there

Russia was accused of ‘dancing on bones’ when reopening the Ukrainian theater where civilians sheltering in air strikes were killed last night.

The Mariupol Drama Theater in the port city of the same name was bombed in March 2022, weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The families would take shelter in the basement of the impressive building, one of the city’s cultural icons.

In order to prevent the theater from being targeted, the word ‘children’ was written in huge letters outside the theatre.

But international human rights organizations say 12 people were killed in Russian airstrikes almost four years ago.

Ukrainians insist the total death toll is in the hundreds.

Russian forces subsequently overwhelmed Ukrainian defenses and have occupied Mariupol ever since.

The Kremlin restored the theater and performances resumed this week, prompting widespread condemnation.

Theater hit by bombs and Ukrainian officials claim ‘hundreds’ killed in blast

‘Children’ was written on the theater to prevent it from being bombed

Two Russian soldiers are patrolling in the theater. Russian forces accused of ‘dancing on the bones’ of civilians killed there after the theater reopened

The Ukrainian city council of Mariupol, which fled the city upon the arrival of Russian forces, described the reopening of the theater as ‘singing and dancing on the bones’.

A spokesman added: ‘The restoration of the theater is a cynical attempt to hide the traces of a war crime and is part of an aggressive policy of Russification of the city. ‘The repertoire consists largely of works by Russian writers and playwrights.’