In the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol , in the Donetsk Oblast, Vladimir Putin's forces have begun assembling the main Christmas tree near a theatre – the exact spot where a large number of civilians, including children, were killed while sheltering from Russian bombs.

"Today the occupiers, seeking to erase the traces of their war crimes , are installing the main (bloody) Christmas tree next to the theatre," Mariupol City Council wrote in a post on Telegram on Monday (December 1).

"They want children not to honour their fallen peers there, but to dance in circles and celebrate beside the place where people were killed."

In addition, the Russians plan to officially reopen the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre for this year's theatre season, following more th

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