Putin makes surprise Ukraine visit despite ICC arrest warrant

He makes trip to Mariupol in defiant gesture against International Criminal Court

KYIV - A day after being accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, scene of some of the worst devastation of his year-old invasion.

State television showed extended footage of Mr Putin being shown around the city on Saturday night, meeting rehoused residents and being briefed on reconstruction efforts by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

The port city of Mariupol became known around the world as a byword for death and destruction as much of it was reduced to ruins in the first months of the war, eventually falling to Russian forces last May.

Hundreds were killed in the bombing of a theatre where families with children were sheltering.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Russia's early bombing of a maternity hospital there was a war crime.

Moscow denied that and has said since it invaded on Feb 24, 2022 that it does not target civilians.