Putin Visits Occupied City Of Mariupol
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprise visit to Mariupol.
The Details: Putin was visiting Crimea on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of its annexation from Ukraine, before reportedly flying to Mariupol via helicopter. The Russian President drove around the city, spoke to local residents, and visited the Philharmonic Hall, which previously held trials of surrendered Ukrainian defenders. From there he traveled to the Russian city Rostov-on-Don, where he met with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who is currently in charge of Russian military operations in Ukraine.
For Context: The trip is Putin’s first visit to annexed Ukrainian territory (excluding Crimea). It comes after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest, just this week. Since its annexation, Russia has installed its own officials in Mariupol and has been actively rebuilding Mariupol. The city’s population, which fell from 450,000 to 100,000 by May 2022, is currently rising again, according to Kremlin officials.
Key Quotes: Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said the trip had been unannounced, and that Putin intended to “inspect the work of the (command) post in its ordinary mode of operation.”
How The Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum covered Putin's visit similarly.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Vladimir Putin visits captured Ukrainian city for first time since invadingRussian President Vladimir Putin visited a captured Ukrainian city on Sunday for the first time since invading the country last year.
Putin made an unannounced trip to the coastal city of Mariupol, a city Russian forces reduced to near ruins with artillery fire earlier in the invasion. Footage shows Putin driving around the city at night while Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin explains the efforts Russian forces are taking to rebuild the city.
Putin's regime has touted the rebuilding efforts in Mariupol as evidence of its claim to be liberating...
From the Center
Ukraine war: Putin pays visit to occupied Mariupol, state media reportsRussian President Vladimir Putin has paid a surprise visit to Mariupol, a Ukrainian port captured by Russia after its forces pounded much of it to ruins.
An official video shows Mr Putin driving a car through streets at night and speaking to people. The Kremlin says it happened late on Saturday.
It is believed to be his first trip to a newly-occupied Ukrainian territory.
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...
From the Left
Russia’s Putin makes surprise trip to occupied MariupolRussian President Vladimir Putin visited the occupied port city of Mariupol, his first trip to Ukrainian territory that Moscow illegally annexed in September and a show of defiance after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on war crimes charges.
Putin arrived in Mariupol late Saturday after visiting Crimea, southwest of Mariupol, to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. He was shown chatting with Mariupol residents and visiting an art school and a children’s center in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Mariupol...
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