Russia's demolition of the Mariupol theater and the alleged removal of bodies could be a sign they're trying to 'hide' their war crime, witnesses believe

Ukrainian witnesses to the deadly Mariupol theater strike earlier this year believe the ongoingdemolition of the building, which was serving as a bomb shelter for hundreds of people, including many children, may be evidence of Russia's attempts.

The AP investigation found that the March airstrike was the single deadliest attack on civilians in the war so far. The outlet used witness accounts from 23 survivors, rescuers, and people familiar with the building as a shelter to recreate what happened inside the theater.

On March 16, Russian forces bombed the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in Mariupol in a shocking attack that quickly gained international condemnation. According to the AP, the war crimes investigation has been opened by the government of Ukraine.

The theater became a gathering point for people hoping to be on hand for the start of the evacuees from the besieged city. The set designer for the theater used white paint to write the word "CHILDREN" in Cyrillic letters outside the building in an attempt to prevent a bombing.

The survivors estimated that there were around 1,000 people inside the theater at the time of the crash, but many said only 200 people were able to escape. At least 100 people were holed up in a field kitchen, none of whom survived the blast, according to the witnesses.

Prior to the attack, people in the theater avoided congregating on the theater's stage, which sat directly below a domed ceiling, which witnesses said felt like a "bullseye." Instead, dogs and cats were kept on the stage.

The pregnant women and families with young children who fled the maternity hospital in Mariupol were given extra space in the dressing rooms on the second floor of the theater.

Russian forces control the area around the theater and as of May it was demolished. Russian state media shows no bodies still inside the ruins, despite what witnesses said, while an AP video shows heavy equipment destroying the remaining rubble.

The lack of visible bodies led some witnesses to believe that hundreds of dead bodies may have been removed by Russian soldiers. The experts told the outlet that witness testimony will be important in future investigations.

They came not to capture the city but to destroy it, according to a survivor of the bombing.

Russia has previously signaled that its military may be covering up war crimes. The Mariupol city council accused Russian forces of using mobile crematoriums to burn civilians.

Russian leadership ordered the destruction of evidence of crimes committed by its army in Mariupol, following outrage over hundreds of civilian deaths. Satellite images show at least two mass graves outside Mariupol.