Mariupol cites witnesses suggesting 300 might have been killed in theatre bombing

Local officers, citing witness accounts, stated as many as 300 folks might have been killed within the bombing of a theatre within the besieged metropolis of Mariupol on March 16.

The metropolis council made clear it was nonetheless not attainable to find out the precise demise toll after the incident, through which it stated a strong Russian air strike hit the Drama Theatre the place lots of of individuals had been sheltering within the encircled metropolis.

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The Ukrainian authorities has beforehand stated that it was unimaginable to inform what number of have been killed as a result of Mariupol is in chaos and beneath virtually fixed bombardment from besieging Russian forces.

Russia has denied bombing the theatre. The Kremlin says Russian forces haven’t focused civilians after invading Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“From witnesses comes information that about 300 people died in the Mariupol Drama Theatre as a result of the bombing by a Russian plane,” Mariupol metropolis council stated in a press release on Friday.

“Up until the very last moment, one does not want to believe this horror. But the words of those who were inside the building at the time of this terrorist act says the opposite.”

Ukrainian officers have stated that about 130 folks have been rescued from the rubble and that the theatre basement, the place native officers stated many individuals have been sheltering on the time of the bombardment, had withstood the assault.