Putin visited Mariupol city at night ‘as befits a thief’: Ukraine defense ministry

Ukraine’s defense ministry said Sunday that President Vladimir Putin’s surprise visit to the port city of Mariupol, which fell under Russian control last year, took place during the night “as befits a thief.”

“As befits a thief, Putin visited Ukrainian Mariupol, under the cover of night. 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,” the ministry said on Twitter.

Ukraine estimates about 20,000 civilians were killed in the city during Russia’s siege, including those in the theater bombing. Mariupol had a pre-war population of about 450,000.