Following the issuance of an arrest warrant for him by the International Criminal Court, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly made a defiant move by visiting Mariupol, an area in Ukraine that is currently under Russian occupation.
According to a statement released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin was flown into Mariupol by helicopter and toured around the city’s districts in a car. He stopped to speak with residents in the Nevsky neighborhood and visited a yacht club and theater building while examining the coastline.
The visit is likely to be seen as provocative by Ukrainians, as Mariupol was a symbol of resistance during Russia’s invasion and witnessed some of the most intense fighting.
The Kremlin also stated that Putin held a meeting at the command post of the special military operation in Rostov-on-Don, where he heard reports from military leaders.
Mariupol, located in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, has been under direct Russian control since May 2022 and has suffered devastating attacks, causing a third of its population to flee.
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