Russia-Ukraine war: Rescuers search for survivors of bombed Mariupol theatre
- Hundreds of civilians had been taking shelter in the Mariupol theatre when bombed
- Russia denies targeting civilians, says allegation it had attacked the theatre was a ‘lie’
Rescuers were searching for survivors in the rubble of a theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol, after Ukraine said a powerful Russian air strike hit the building where hundreds of people had been sheltering from the war.
The port city is encircled by Russian forces and has seen fierce bombardment. A statement from the city council said that about 30,000 residents had managed to escape so far, but more than 350,000 remained stuck there.
“The heart is breaking from what Russia does to our people, our Mariupol, and our Donetsk region,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a late night address on Wednesday, after referring to the theatre attack.
More than a day after the air strike, there were no reports of deaths.
The city council said hundreds of people, mostly women, children and the elderly, had been hiding in the theatre and a nearby swimming pool building because of heavy shelling.
01:33
Ukrainian city of Mariupol descends into despair with over 2,000 people killed since start of war
“Information about the victims is still being clarified,” it said.