The restored Mariupol Drama Theatre, which was reduced to a roofless, rubble-filled shell almost four years ago, on Sunday (December 28) officially reopened to the public.

Denis Pushilin, Moscow-installed leader of the Russian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region, as well as the governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov were among the guests.

Authorities said St.Petersburg, a sister city of Mariupol, played a major part in restoring the destroyed theatre.

The bombing of the theatre, where hundreds of civilians were killed in a Russian air strike on March 16, 2022, was part of a protracted Russian siege of the southern port city, which held out for more than two months but was also taken with many infrastructure in ruins.

Civilians had taken refuge in the theatre and the Russian word for "Children" had been painted on the ground in large white letters, visible from the air.

Russia denies targeting civilians. At that time, its defence ministry accused the Azov Battalion, a militia which is part of Ukraine's armed forces, of blowing up the theatre.

Ukrainian officials said at least 300 people were killed in the bombing, though some estimates said the toll was higher.

They say the clearing of the site was part of an attempt by Russia to remove the evidence.

-Reuters