Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian officials in the occupied Ukrainian territory of Mariupol of trying to cover up evidence of war crimes following the demolition of a theater in the city. Ukrainian authorities have said that hundreds may have died in the theater due to an air strike.
Friday last week, video footage published by both Russian and Ukrainian news outlets showed the Mariupol theater getting demolished. The videos showed heavy equipment destroying most of the theater and leaving only the facade intact. Ukrainian officials criticized the demolition as an attempt by Russia to cover up the evidence of its war crimes, as hundreds of people may have died back on March 16.
Russian officials said the demolition of the theater was part of the efforts to rebuild the theater in order to reinforce its control of the city.
“The Mariupol Theater no longer exists,” said Ukrainian culture minister Oleksandr Tkachenko in a post on Facebook. “The occupiers are removing traces of their crimes and couldn’t care less whether this is cultural heritage or whether it belongs to another culture.”
Ukrainian officials said at least 300 civilians died when Russia bombed the theater. However, the actual death toll may be higher. The Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security said the ruins of the bombed theater served as an “irritant” for Russians and were evidence of their crime.
Also on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Russian workers were destroying bombed buildings in Mariupol at a rate of at least one a day, hauling away bodies found in the debris.
According to the British defense ministry in its intelligence bulletin on Saturday, while Russia succeeded in solving its personnel shortage on the ground, they are now facing a depleting supply of munitions. The ministry noted that Moscow may have pulled back some of its long-range missile strikes on Ukraine at least once a week due to the munition shortage.
“Russia is unlikely to have increased its stockpile of artillery munitions enough to enable large-scale offensive operations,” said the ministry. “A vulnerability of Russia’s current operational design is even just sustaining defensive operations along its lengthy front line requires a significant daily expenditure of shells and rockets.”


California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 



