Vladimir Putin limps wildly at his first sighting since the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. video | world News

In his first appearance since an International Criminal Court arrest warrant was issued over alleged war crimes, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea. The Russian leader was seen walking with a visible limp in Crimea as he opened a school and art center for children. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, a move that was condemned internationally.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, shared a video on social media claiming that Vladimir Putin was “visibly limping” during his visit. In the video, Vladimir Putin can be seen walking past his aides with his head bowed as they brief him.

The Kremlin described this visit as a “reunification” event, and it marks nine years since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Earlier, the Russian president was expected to take part in the events via video conference, but was later seen on state television in Sevastopol, Reuters news agency reported, adding that Vladimir Putin arrived in Crimea’s largest city driving a car.

The visit comes just a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin for war crimes related to the kidnapping of children from Ukraine, charges the Kremlin has denied. The International Criminal Court has also indicted Russia’s Children’s Minister Maria Lvova Belova over alleged deportations of children from Ukraine to Russia. The allegations date back to February last year.

Vladimir Putin last visited Crimea in 2020.