Putin’s Unexpected Trip to Crimea
Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to the Crimea region on Saturday, March 18 (27 Esfand).
This trip coincided with the ninth anniversary of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula to Russian territory.
Crimea is part of Ukraine’s territory, but Russia occupied it in 2014 and annexed it to its territory after holding what Russian officials call a referendum. Ukraine and Western countries have not recognized this matter until now.
According to reports, Putin also visited the city of Mariupol, located in the Donetsk province in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
Large parts of Mariupol have been destroyed due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
During this trip, Marat Khusnullin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, accompanied Putin.