The visit, the first by Putin to the Donbass region since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in late February last year, followed his surprise visit to Crimea on Saturday to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula's annexation to Russia.
He arrived in Mariupol by helicopter and then drove himself around the city's memorial sites, concert hall and coastline, and chatted with Mariupol residents to check on the progress of reconstruction efforts, new residential areas, social and educational facilities, housing, social services, and medical facilities.
Mariupol is an important port city for the import and export of grain and other agricultural products. It played a key role in Ukraine defense and drew international attention in the early stages of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Last September, Russia announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, including the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic of Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, where Mariupol is located.