Pro-Russian forces in Donetsk unveil themed cookies celebrating Mariupol takeover
Occupation of Mariupol (Photo: Getty Images)
For the anniversary of the occupation of Mariupol — which they call "liberation" — the Russians have issued commemorative cookies to order, according to a post by Petro Andryushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation.
"For the fourth anniversary of the 'liberation' of Mariupol, the largest bakery producer of the Donetsk People's Republic — the company 'Mir Khleba' — has started producing themed cookies," Andryushchenko said.
He also emphasized the irony of marking such a date in this way, given that in 2022, thousands of Mariupol residents were killed or injured as a result of enemy actions.
"If you mix stupidity with savagery, you get these kinds of 'cookies' for celebrating the occupation of Mariupol. Tens of thousands of killed and maimed civilians truly need exactly this kind of memory, according to the Donetsk People's Republic," noted the head of the Center for the Study of Occupation.
Photo: Russians issued cookies for the anniversary of the city’s occupation (screenshot)
Occupation of Mariupol
Mariupol found itself under Russian blockade in early March 2022 and became one of the most destroyed cities during the full‑scale war. During months of fighting, Russian troops massively shelled residential areas, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, leading to thousands of civilian casualties.
One of the symbols of the tragedy was the Russian airstrike on the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre on March 16, 2022. Hundreds of civilians, including children, were sheltering in the theatre, and the word "CHILDREN" was written in large letters near the entrance, visible from the air. According to Ukrainian authorities, hundreds of people died as a result of the strike.
Regarding Mariupol today, the city continues to live under occupation, where the Russians are trying to entrench themselves through new infrastructure. The so‑called Donetsk People's Republic authorities plan to launch direct rail service between Mariupol and Donetsk by the summer of 2026.
