UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Mar. 16 — On Mar. 16, 2022, approximately 600 to 1,200 people were sheltering in the Mariupol Drama Theater — one of the few places in the city where civilians could hide from the fighting. Locas had written the word “CHILDREN” (“Deti” in Russian) in large white letters outside the building. Despite this, Russia bombed the theater, killing up to 600 people, according to the Associated Press.

According to officials, Russia killed about 300 people, and 130 were rescued from the rubble. 

In Kharkiv today, workers at the city’s largest theater, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, wrote the word “children” (“Dity” in Ukrainian) near the entrance to commemorate those killed in the attack.

The sign reads
The sign near the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater / Photo: Gwara Media, Andrii Henov

The Kharkiv Academic Drama Theater, named after Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko, and the Taras Shevchenko Kharkiv Academic Ukrainian Drama Theater also put posters  marking the anniversary of the Russian airstrike, along with memorial candles and children’s toys at their entrances.

The poster at the entrance of the Kharkiv Academic Drama Theater, named after Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko
The poster at the entrance of the Kharkiv Academic Drama Theater, named after Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko / Photo: Gwara Media, Andrii Henov
The poster along with memorial candles and children’s toys at the entrances of the Taras Shevchenko Kharkiv Academic Ukrainian Drama Theate
The poster along with memorial candles and children’s toys at the entrances of the Taras Shevchenko Kharkiv Academic Ukrainian Drama Theate / Photo: Gwara Media, Andrii Henov

“Mariupol theater served as a shelter for civilians and had the word “CHILDREN” written above the entrance. But that did not stop the terrorists who dropped a bomb on it. Today, the theater’s staff joined a nationwide peaceful memorial event to honor the victims of this tragedy,” wrote the press service of the Kharkiv Academic Drama Theater. 

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