Putin visits Russian troops in occupied Kherson and Luhansk regions

The Kremlin’s press service reported Tuesday that Vladimir Putin visited a Russian military headquarters in Ukraine’s Kherson region and another one in the country’s Luhansk region.

According to the statement, the president heard reports from several top commanders leading troops in the areas as well as wishing soldiers a happy Easter and giving them copies of icons.

Vladimir Putin’s first visit to occupied Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began was in March 2023, when he made a surprise trip to Mariupol. In a video that appeared to show the president talking to local residents about the Russian government’s “restoration” efforts, a woman’s voice could be heard shouting in the background, “It’s not real! It’s all for show!”