Putin Visits Occupied City of Mariupol

Voice of America
19 Mar 2023, 18:36 GMT+10

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to a report Sunday from the Russian state news agency Tass.

Putin traveled to Crimea on Saturday on the ninth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded Russia's withdrawal from Crimea and all areas it has occupied since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which entered its second year in February.

Saturday's trip also came the day after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest, charging him with being personally responsible for the abduction of children from Ukraine in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian leader visited an art center and a children's center in Crimea.

Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russia's invasion that the "quiet declaration of an alternative capital" for the Zaporizhzhia Oblast "is likely tacit acknowledgement within the Russian system that its forces are highly unlikely to seize previously planned major objectives in the near future."

Russian officials published a decree on March 3 declaring Melitopol as the Zaporizhzhia oblast capital. It was designed as a temporary measure, the ministry said, until the city of Zaporizhzhia is controlled by Russia.

However, Russia has never occupied the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is about 35 kilometers from the current front line.

Putin claimed in September to have annexed four oblasts, including Zaporizhzhia, as part of the Russian Federation.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.

More Information

null in null

Africa

Section

ETHIOPIA-ADDIS ABABA-CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM-MEDICAL SUPPLIES-DONATION

(250703) -- ADDIS ABABA, July 3, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Liu Junying (L), head of the 25th batch of the Chinese medical team, poses for a...

DR CONGO-GOMA-M23 REBEL GROUP-PRESS CONFERENCE

(250703) -- GOMA (DR CONGO), July 3, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Benjamin Mbonimpa (2nd R), the Congo River Alliance (AFC)'s permanent secretary...

Sharjah Chamber strengthens investment cooperation with Africa during first-ever trade mission to Mauritius

MAURITIUS, 3rd July, 2025 (WAM) - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) concluded its first-ever official trade mission...

How UN Women turns gender data into impact

Data to end violence: United Republic of Tanzania “Before, I didn’t know where to report cases of violence. Now, I have...

Ghana shows "clear interest" in India's defence equipment

Accra [Ghana], July 3 (ANI): Ministry of External Affair's Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi stated that Prime Minister Narendra...

India-Ghana signs MoUs boosting cooperation in health and culture

Accra (Ghana), July 3 (ANI): India and Ghana signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation...

World

Section