SEVASTOPOL , Russia, May 9 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea Friday for the first time since it was annexed by Russia, attending a naval parade in Sevastopol.
The visit came on the date (May 9) that Russia celebrates the victorious end of World War II and Crimea honors its liberation from Nazi occupation in 1944. It also followed Putin's attendance at a militaristic parade of patriotism and power in Moscow. The annual parade rolled through Red Square with atypical scrutiny -- the first Victory Day parade since the international tension began over Crimea and Ukraine.