Putin Makes a Bold Stop in Mariupol, Ukraine


Russian President Vladimir Putin took an unplanned detour in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which Russian forces had captured in May of last year, just two days after being issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. Putin spent Saturday in Crimea, a region illegally invaded by Russia nine years ago. On Sunday, he traveled to the occupied city, which was severely damaged, including the bombing of a theater where 600 Ukrainians are believed to have been killed. Tass claimed on Sunday that Putin traveled from Crimea to Mariupol on a “business excursion” during which he interacted with locals and assessed construction projects. Putin is going to occupy Ukraine this weekend, even though he is wanted for war crimes in Ukraine, like sending Ukrainian children illegally to Russia and Russian-controlled territory.