The building that housed more than a thousand citizens in the besieged city of southern Ukraine was bombed by Russia on March 16. The blast killed about 300 people, authorities in the country said – making it the deadliest attack on civilians by the war. Maria Radionova, 27, a resident of Mariupol, who was among those who managed to escape alive, spoke of the chaos as the bomb exploded. Zelensky says his troops have dealt “severe blows” to Russia – live updates on Ukraine Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:53 Footage from inside the bombed-out theater in Mariupol Image: The word “children” was written outside the theater in Russian in large letters, in an attempt to prevent an attack. Photo: Maxar “There was a general panic,” he said. “People were running, people were pushing. “I did not go down to the bomb shelter itself, but I am convinced that many people died there not only from the rocket but also from panic, because when people came out, no one could see if anyone had to pass. and I’m sure this crowd killed more people than the strike itself. “ “People were running, people were screaming” Mariupol, a port city with a strategic location, was attacked for almost the entire war. For days, authorities were unable to say how many people lost their lives in the attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater. In an attempt to prevent an attack on the building, which was used as a shelter, the word “CHILDREN” was printed in Russian with huge white letters on the ground outside. Sky News reported that pregnant women who had been rescued from a bombed-out maternity hospital had been taken to the theater for safety. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:42 Drone records long queues for humanitarian aid Image: Many used the theater as a bomb shelter Ms Radionova, who was standing at the entrance to the theater at the time of the attack, said she saw separated parents and children desperate to find each other. “There was a huge commotion,” he said. “People were running, people were screaming, shouting at their parents, the children were missing, the children were looking for their mothers. Those who could take the children away and tried to calm them down by saying ‘we will find your mother’.” She said she did not realize what had happened in the beginning and was helped by a man standing nearby. Image: Maps showing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and below, the advance on Mariupol “At one point I just heard a whistle and then the man standing behind me grabbed me by the neck and made me bend down and then pushed me against the wall and covered me with his body. And the debris was falling on us. Bricks and pieces wall… “I saw a man on the stairs, most likely exploding from the explosion and falling face down on the (shattered) glass. “A woman was injured in a puddle of blood and she was trying to wake him up and press his face against the glass.” Read more: Russia says ‘Black Sea’ footage shows incredible lighthouse as families flee Ukraine’s most devastated city Rowling retaliates against Putin wanted for targeting nuclear power plants Eyewitness: No way out for 150,000 people trapped in Hell City Chernihiv Mrs. Radionova, who lost two dogs in the attack, is now taking refuge with friends in the town of Zaporizhzhia. Mariupol has been devastated by weeks of Russian fires. Speaking at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared the destruction of the city to the destruction of the Syrian city of Aleppo by a combination of Syrian and Russian forces in the civil war. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker More than 100,000 people still need to be evacuated from Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said on Saturday. The bloodshed in the city has fueled allegations that Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine.
