24. Shelling of theater.
Mariupol (Donetsk)
LOCATION: Mariupol (Donetsk)
DATE: March 16, 2022
NUMBER OF WITNESSES: 3
SUMMARY: The Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre was bombed during the Russian siege of Mariupol. It was used as an air raid shelter for around 1,000 civilians, of which around 600 were killed. The Russian bombing of the theater stands out as the single deadliest known attack against civilians to date.
WITNESSES
The Witnesses of the incident were male and female civilians who were in the Drama Theater on the day of the airstrike.
VICTIMS
At the time of the airstrike, there were about 1,000 people in the Drama Theater. The Witnesses recalled seeing countless injured civilians, including men, women, and children of all ages. It is estimated that around 600 people may have died as a result of the airstrike.
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS
as described by the Witness(es)
Because the airstrike was carried out from a long distance, the witnesses were unable to identify the Russian soldiers who initiated the attack.