In Mariupol, Russians urgently "reconstructing" Drama Theater, trying to conceal own war crime

That’s according to Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the city mayor, Ukrinform reports.

"The occupiers are hiding their own war crime – the mass murder of about 600 civilians in the Mariupol Drama Theater. They are in a hurry to eliminate all traces and evidence through the ‘reconstruction,’” the mayor's advisor wrote.

He noted that the invaders explained the need for reconstruction by the "historical value" of the building. In fact, it has neither historical nor architectural value, like all typical buildings of the Soviet period.

"The only historical value arose when two bombs were dropped. And it is this historical value that the occupiers are now trying to hide," Andriushchenko emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Mariupol Drama Theater, which was used as a bomb shelter by Mariupol residents, was bombed by Russian aircraft on March 16. At least 300 civilians died on the spot.