(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first visit to Mariupol, a city that was devastated when Russian forces besieged it earlier in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The visit, which took place late on Saturday, was confirmed by the Kremlin, which said that Putin had decided "spontaneously" to tour the city. Video released by Russian media shows Putin chatting to a companion as they head towards the city's concert hall.
The BBC has traced part of the route that Putin took, which passed near the locations of several notorious attacks during the Russian army's months-long assault on the city. Russia finally overran Mariupol in May, and the city has since been struggling to rebuild.
Mariupol's Ukrainian mayor in exile, Vadym Boychenko, told the BBC that the city was "personal" to Putin because of what had happened there. "We have to understand that Mariupol is a symbolic place for Putin, because of the fury he inflicted on the city of Mariupol. No other city was destroyed like that. No other city was under siege for so long. No other city was subjected to carpet bombing," he said.
"He has come in person to see what he has done," Boychenko added.
Putin's visit has sparked controversy and criticism, with some accusing him of trying to whitewash Russia's role in the conflict. Russia has denied involvement in the conflict, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and has since escalated into a full-blown war in eastern Ukraine.
The visit also highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. According to the United Nations, the conflict has displaced over 1.5 million people and caused widespread destruction and suffering. The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but progress has been slow.
As Putin's visit to Mariupol continues to be debated and analyzed, there are likely to be ongoing questions about the role of Russia in the conflict, and what can be done to bring an end to the suffering of those affected by the war.
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