Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unplanned visit to the city of Mariupol on the evening of March 18 and the night of March 19, according to Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian Federation’s President. What made this visit unique was that Putin traveled with minimal security and followed all traffic rules.
During his visit, Putin held a meeting with his army chief, Valery Gerasimov, at the headquarters of the military operation.
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They discussed the situation in the special operation zone, which has been the epicenter of tensions between Ukraine and Russia for years.
While in Mariupol, Putin did not make any public appearances and did not meet with any local officials. The visit was unplanned and had no advanced preparation.
The Russian Investigative Committee is also documenting any crimes that Kyiv has committed, which could potentially serve as the basis for future legal action.
This surprise visit to Mariupol is part of Putin’s plan to tour various regions of Russia within the next 2-3 weeks. It’s unclear where he will be going next or what his itinerary will entail.
Nevertheless, his visit to Mariupol has sparked a flurry of reactions and speculations about the motives behind his trip.