Russian President Vladimir Putin made a weekend visit to the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol, inspecting reconstruction work and visiting the home of at least one local resident, the Kremlin said in a statement Sunday.

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Putin arrived Saturday night in the port city that has been under Russian control since May and was illegally annexed by Moscow in September.

“As befits a thief, Putin visited Ukrainian Mariupol, under the cover of night,” the Ukraine Defense Ministry tweeted. “First, it is safer. Also, darkness allows him to highlight what he wants to show, and keeps the city his army completely destroyed and its few surviving inhabitants away from prying eyes.”

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