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PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN took a victory lap on his first visit to Crimea since its annexation by Russia, as fighting in eastern Ukraine left more than 20 dead just days ahead of a separatist vote.

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.

“This provocation once again confirms that Russia deliberately seeks further escalation of tensions,” the foreign ministry said, calling the visit a “flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”.

In Sevastopol, Putin reviewed Russian ships in the bay, hailing the sailors on board with a “Hello comrades!” as he congratulated them on Friday’s 69th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War II.

Putin said 2014 “will go down in history” as the year when the “historic truth” of Crimea as part of Russia was recognised.

“Much work remains ahead, but we will overcome all difficulties… because we are together. And that means we are even stronger,” Putin told a cheering crowd.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March set off the worst diplomatic crisis in the West’s relations with Moscow since the end of the Cold War.