Vladimir Putin made his first trip to territory captured by Russian forces since the war in Ukraine began, traveling to the ravaged city of Mariupol over the weekend
The visit was seen as a defiant gesture two days after an international court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Putin personally drove through the ravaged City by car according to reports after being flown in by helicopter
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told the President of Russia during his visit that the residents of Mariupol are returning to the city more actively.
The President, in turn, noted the quality of local roads. According to him, they are not just “more or less”, but “excellent”.
Putin also visited Russian-occupied Crimea – nine years after the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula.
Mariupol’s exiled mayor told BBC News that Mr Putin was a “criminal” who had “returned to the scene of the crime”.
He has come in person to see what he has done,” Vadym Boychenko said. “He’s come to see what he will be punished for.”
