(Dan Tri) – After a visit to the Crimea peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol, Eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Sevastopol in Crimea on March 18 (Photo: AP).
TASS news agency reported on March 19 that President Vladimir Putin flew a helicopter from the Crimean peninsula to Mariupol city, Donetsk province, Eastern Ukraine.
According to reports, this is Mr. Putin’s first visit to this territory since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine.
During the trip, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported in detail about reconstruction works inside and outside the city.
Russian forces last May took control of Mariupol after a siege and attack campaign lasting more than 80 days.
Before the conflict broke out, Mariupol had about 500,000 inhabitants.
The visit to Mariupol took place just one day after Russian media reported that Mr. Putin visited Crimea to celebrate 9 years since the peninsula merged into Russia after a controversial referendum.
`The President knows how to create a pleasant surprise. Today, we planned to open an art school for children in Khersones, prepare an exchange program and report online to the President. But the President
On the same day, according to TASS news agency, President Putin visited the headquarters of Russia’s special military operations in the city of Rostov-on-Don.
The last time he came to this command post was on December 17, 2022 with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
President Putin announced the opening of a special military operation in Ukraine from February 24, 2022, just a few days after signing a decree recognizing the independence of the two separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk of Ukraine.
According to observers, Russia considers Ukraine a security buffer zone, so Kiev’s attempt to join NATO is considered a `red line` for Russia.