VIDEO| Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol: He drove a car through the streets of the destroyed city
Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to Mariupol, his first trip to Donbass since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Putin arrived in Mariupol last night by helicopter, drove a car through the city streets, stopping at several locations, Russian media reports.
Putin's visit to Mariupol follows a tour of Crimea on the ninth anniversary of the annexation.
The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin visited Mariupol, the Ukrainian city Russia's invading army razed to the ground, overnight by helicopter.
This is a show of defiance after the ICC arrest warrant – Ukraine says 1,000 of the 14,700 children Russia abducted are from Mariupol. pic.twitter.com/vtyuTbEtY1
- max seddon (@maxseddon) March 19, 2023
By arriving in Mariupol, Putin came closest to the front lines since the start of Russia's assault on Ukraine, which began more than a year ago.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnulin handed over to the Russian leader a detailed report on the reconstruction works of the city and its outskirts.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on Friday, charging him with the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine.
