Mariupol theatre airstrike
| Mariupol theatre airstrike | |
|---|---|
| Part of the siege of Mariupol during the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
Damage to the theatre after the airstrike | |
| Location | Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre Mariupol, Ukraine |
| Date | 16 March 2022 (UTC+3) |
| Target | Civilians using the theatre as an air raid shelter |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Deaths | Estimates range from 12 to over 600 |
| Perpetrators | Russian Armed Forces (denied by Russia) |
On 16 March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces bombed the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre in Mariupol, Ukraine. It was used as an air raid shelter during the siege of Mariupol, sheltering a large number of civilians. The estimations of the number of deaths that occurred due to the bombing have varied, from at least 12 and "likely many more" (Amnesty International) to as many as 600 (Associated Press).
The Ukrainian government accused the Russian Armed Forces of deliberately bombing the theatre while it was sheltering civilians. Russia denied the allegations. The Russian claim has been refuted by independent investigations.
The theatre is among the Ukrainian heritage and cultural sites destroyed during the invasion. The attack has been classified as a war crime by both the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Amnesty International.