Kyvi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday paid a surprise visit to the Ukrainian port city Mariupol which was captured by Moscow's forces. It is believed to be his first trip to the occupied territory.
An official video showed him driving a car through the streets at night and talking to people. The Kremlin said the visit took place late on Saturday.
Mariupol's exiled mayor called Putin a criminal who has returned to the crime scene. "He has come in person to see what he has done. He's come to see what he will be punished for." Other Ukrainian officials said Putin visited the city at night so that he would not see it in daylight, reported BBC. Most of the city is now in ruins as Russian troops hit it hard in order to capture it.
Moscow captured Mariupol over ten months ago after the longest and bloodiest battles of the Ukrainian war. Kyiv said over 20,000 people died in the city. A UN report said 90% of the buildings in the industrial hub have been damaged by Moscow. The city had a pre-war population of 500,000 and around 350,000 were forced to leave their homes.
Tass news agency's video showed that Putin was in the car with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin who was explaining plans to rebuild the city. Putin also seems to have visited the Philharmonic Hall, which was used to stage trials of defenders of the Azovstal iron and steel plant. Ukrainian troops used the industrial complex to hold out till the last moment. He also met with top military officials in Rostov -on-Don.
Locals told the BBC that Russia is conducting an expensive campaign to rebuild the city to win over the heart of its people. The plan is to assimilate Mariupol into Russia. According to Moscow, around 300,000 people are in the city.