Vladimir Putin proclaims Crimea is forever a part of Russia on Unity Day

Mr Putin exalted the annexation while visiting the city that is the home port for Russia’s Black Sea fleet on Thursday

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech at the memorial complex dedicated to the end of the Russian Civil War (Mikhail Metzel/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the national Unity Day holiday with a trip to Crimea, declaring the region will always be a part of Russia.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that Western countries regard as illegitimate, in the wake of the overthrow of Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president.