March 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Crimea on Saturday on an unannounced visit to mark the ninth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine.
Putin was greeted by the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, and taken to see a new children's centre and art school on what the official said was a surprise visit.
[1/8] Russian President Vladimir Putin, Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev and Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov), chairman of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, visit the state museum-preserve "Tauric Chersonese" in Sevastopol, Crimea March 18, 2023.
Sputnik/Russian Presidential Press Office/Kremlin via REUTERS 1 2 3 4 5.
Putin has yet to comment publicly on the move.
Russia seized Crimea in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine says it will fight to expel Russia from Crimea and all other territory that Russia has occupied in the year-long war. »