>> reporter: this was the mariupol drama theater before vladimir putin invaded ukraine. a cultural and architectural symbol of the city. and when the russian military laid its deadly siege of mariupol, the theater became a . and we go to the theater was a people, there was like we're okay, we have food. they give us tea. and said you should find where you could like a bed. >> this woman and her family recently escaped from mariupol. >> my name is maria. >> on the morning of march 16, she and her mother, sister and cat joined hundreds of others