(CNN) Vladimir Putin has made a surprise visit to Russian-occupied Mariupol, his first visit to territory captured by his forces in the year-long conflict.
The visit was an apparent act of defiance, coming just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.
It also prompted outrage from Ukraine – the defense ministry compared Putin to a “thief” visiting “under the cover of night” – with the city having been reduced to ruins in Russia’s offensive.
Putin was flown into Mariupol by helicopter and toured districts around the city in a car, footage released by Russian authorities showed.
The Russian president is shown meeting seemingly surprised residents. Putin tells one man “we need to start getting to know each other better.”
The Kremlin insisted the visit was “spontaneous.” It is not clear when it took place, although on Saturday Putin visited Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of its annexation.
