Voice of America
19 Mar 2023, 18:36 GMT+10
Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to a report Sunday from the Russian state news agency Tass.
Putin traveled to Crimea on Saturday on the ninth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded Russia's withdrawal from Crimea and all areas it has occupied since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which entered its second year in February.
Saturday's trip also came the day after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin's arrest, charging him with being personally responsible for the abduction of children from Ukraine in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian leader visited an art center and a children's center in Crimea.
Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russia's invasion that the "quiet declaration of an alternative capital" for the Zaporizhzhia Oblast "is likely tacit acknowledgement within the Russian system that its forces are highly unlikely to seize previously planned major objectives in the near future."
Russian officials published a decree on March 3 declaring Melitopol as the Zaporizhzhia oblast capital. It was designed as a temporary measure, the ministry said, until the city of Zaporizhzhia is controlled by Russia.
However, Russia has never occupied the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is about 35 kilometers from the current front line.
Putin claimed in September to have annexed four oblasts, including Zaporizhzhia, as part of the Russian Federation.
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images) Cody Bellinger hit three homers for the first time in his career and drove in six runs,...
(Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images) Willy Adames drove in three runs with a triple and a home run, Dominic Smith added...
(Photo credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images) Alejandro Kirk and Nathan Lukes each drove in two runs during a six-run fifth inning...
(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Pinch-hitter Travis d'Arnaud singled in Logan O'Hoppe from second with one out in the bottom...
(Photo credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images) Mike Tauchman delivered a game-ending infield single in the 11th inning and Lenyn Sosa homered...
(Photo credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images) Mark Vientos laced a go-ahead, three-run double in the eighth inning, Franciso Lindor added...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...