Putin on a surprise visit to Mariupol after mandate from the International Criminal Court

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a "working visit" to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. This was announced by the Kremlin's press service, quoted by the Russian agency Tass. Putin "inspected a number of places in the city and spoke with local residents", Moscow explains, adding that the Russian president "went to Mariupol by helicopter; he drove a vehicle along the streets of the city, stopping in various locations". Just a few days ago, the Russian military administration had inaugurated a helicopter platform on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, a stronghold of the Ukrainian defense for months until the surrender last May. According to the Kremlin again, Putin also held a meeting in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don with military leaders at the command post of the "special military operation" underway in Ukraine. Putin has promised that Moscow will build more residential districts in Mariupol, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. During his visit to the eastern Ukrainian city, Putin spoke with a local resident, who described the place as "a little corner of paradise", Tass news agency reported. And the Russian president said: "We will expand it."