Kyiv theatre reopens for first time since Russian invasion

A theater in Kyiv reopened its doors to a full house on Sunday as cultural life returns to the capital despite the ongoing war with Russia.

Kyiv's Theater on Podil welcomed back an audience for the first time since the Russian invasion, selling out its first three plays.

Actor Yuriy Felipenko had doubts whether the public would show up amid ongoing hostilities in the country's east, but the turnout this weekend was reassuring.

His colleague Kostya Tomlyak also hesitated to return to the stage during wartime but, seeing an influx of people returning to the capital, he says it's necessary to learn how to live during the conflict.

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"You continue living, although you don't forget," he said.

After closing shortly after the invasion in February, Kyiv's cinemas and National Opera also reopened their doors at the end of May.

Russian forces withdrew from their offensive on the Ukrainian capital in early April before refocusing on the eastern Donbas region.