I really like this challenge. Not too easy, but nicely demanding.
Is it kosher to provide partial answers ? or solutions to the clues, but not the actual answer? Or to discuss the same in print? What the hell, I'm going to , while hoping not to spoil the fun.
1. Babi Yar in Ukraine is likely the answer here,though I don't know if it was a village as well as a ravine. Alternatively, it could be the place mentioned in the last sentence clue "In another country..." if it's not the real answer.
2. In reverse order, the regional capital is Perm, hence Permian Period. I don't know the town's name, or whether it has some relation to V.V.Putin, who in the eyes of many Russians, "has done a lot for the country". The tense there ,"has done" , suggests someone alive and active, which narrows the choices considerably. But Putinograd? Heaven forfend!
To the extent that I may be wrong above,would it be possible to give further hints,( unless one knows the right answers,of course)?