Crowds turn out to see Putin in Sevastopol President Vladimir Putin took a victory lap Friday in his first visit to Crimea since its annexation by Russia. The visit drew a sharp rebuke from authorities in Kiev, who accused the Russian strongman of stoking tensions with his visit to Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet. But crowds who turned out to see the Russian leader were full of praise for the visit. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.