Putin visits Crimea on anniversary of its annexation from Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video link in Moscow, Russia March 17, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin via REUTERS

(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.