President Putin makes surprise visits to Kherson and Luhansk.

According to a statement from the Kremlin, cited by Sputnik news agency: "President Putin visited the National Guard in the Luhansk People's Republic, where he received a report from General Alexander Lapin and other senior officers on the situation in the region." This was President Putin's first visit to Luhansk.

The Russian leader also visited the personnel of the Dnieper military group in the Kherson region. The Kremlin stated: "President Putin was in Kherson, listening to reports from the military commanders there."

According to Reuters and AP, the Russian president arrived in Kherson first, then traveled by helicopter to the headquarters of the National Guard in Luhansk.

In March, President Putin also made a surprise visit to Mariupol, inspecting the city's infrastructure and chatting with local residents.