File photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow:
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Crimea on Friday for a historic first visit since Moscow's annexation of the peninsula, Russian news agencies reported.
The Russian leader is expected to oversee a massive military parade in the historic port city of Sevastopol commemorating victory over Nazi forces in World War II.
Putin arrived in the Belbek airport near Sevastopol, where a Ukrainian base was stormed by armed soldiers in late March as Moscow was wrapping up its military takeover of the territory.
Putin earlier presided over 11,000 troops and heavy equipment marching through Red Square in Moscow, hailing the "all-conquering patriotic force" of the Soviet people that "saved Europe from slavery".
In Sevastopol he is expected to see an airshow by some 70 planes and a naval show with the participation of Russia's Black Sea fleet, which has been based at the port city since tsarist times.
The Russian leader is expected to oversee a massive military parade in the historic port city of Sevastopol commemorating victory over Nazi forces in World War II.
Putin arrived in the Belbek airport near Sevastopol, where a Ukrainian base was stormed by armed soldiers in late March as Moscow was wrapping up its military takeover of the territory.
Putin earlier presided over 11,000 troops and heavy equipment marching through Red Square in Moscow, hailing the "all-conquering patriotic force" of the Soviet people that "saved Europe from slavery".
In Sevastopol he is expected to see an airshow by some 70 planes and a naval show with the participation of Russia's Black Sea fleet, which has been based at the port city since tsarist times.
