Overview
- A gala reopening Sunday featured performers from Mariupol and St. Petersburg and was attended by Denis Pushilin and Governor Alexander Beglov.
- St. Petersburg authorities led much of the reconstruction, sending workers and architects, with Beglov calling the project "a question of honor."
- The St. Petersburg outlet Bumaga reported an estimated cost of up to 13 billion rubles from a local government foundation.
- An Associated Press investigation found about 600 people were killed in the March 16, 2022 airstrike, contradicting Moscow’s claims; Amnesty has confirmed at least 12 deaths.
- The UN says roughly 90% of city buildings were damaged and about 300,000 residents fled, while rights groups and Ukrainian officials cite thousands of civilian deaths.