Overview
- Russia staged the reopening on Dec. 28 with a broadcast gala featuring artists from Mariupol and St. Petersburg.
- Denis Puschilin announced the venue was ready for audiences after a three-year renovation that restored the historic facade and added modern equipment.
- St. Petersburg sent architects and builders to the project, and Governor Alexander Beglov attended the ceremony among roughly 500 guests.
- During the 2022 siege, civilians, including children, sheltered in the theater, and Amnesty International reports at least 12 deaths and labels the strike a war crime.
- Narratives over responsibility and casualties diverge, with Russian state media alleging an Azov blast and some outlets citing far higher tolls and grisly cleanup claims that remain disputed.