Vladimir Putin is limping stiffly at first sight after the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant. Video | World news

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea for the first time since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. The Russian leader was seen walking with a visible limp in Crimea as he inaugurated a school and children’s art center. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, which has been internationally condemned.

Anton Gerashtshenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, shared a video on social media claiming that Vladimir Putin “visibly limped” during his visit. In the video, Vladimir Putin is seen walking alongside his aides with his head down as they advise him.

The Kremlin called the visit “unification” and it has been nine years since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Earlier, the Russian president was expected to attend 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 by car.

The visit came just a day after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges related to the alleged abduction of children in Ukraine. The Kremlin denied the charges. The ICC also indicted Russian Children’s Minister Maria Lvova-Belova on charges of deporting children from Ukraine to Russia. The allegations date back to February of last year.

Vladimir Putin last visited Crimea in 2020.