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Russian parliament approves troop deployment in Ukraine | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia's upper house of parliament has approved President Putin's request for Russian forces to be used in Ukraine. | |
He had asked that Russian forces be used "until the normalisation of the political situation in the country". | |
Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, where many ethnic Russians live. | |
Kiev has reacted angrily to days of military movements in Crimea, accusing Moscow of trying to provoke the new government into an armed conflict. | |
President Vladimir Putin submitted the request "in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens", the Kremlin said. | |
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow notes that he refers to the "territory of Ukraine" rather than specifically to Crimea, implying that troops could be used in other pro-Russian parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. | |
'Provocation' | 'Provocation' |
The request follow days of military activity in Crimea during which unidentified armed men moved in to take over the regional parliament, state television and telecommunications hubs. | The request follow days of military activity in Crimea during which unidentified armed men moved in to take over the regional parliament, state television and telecommunications hubs. |
Soldiers from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Crimea, are reported to be guarding some administrative buildings and military bases. | Soldiers from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Crimea, are reported to be guarding some administrative buildings and military bases. |
Amid the closure of airspace over Crimea's regional capital Simferopol on Friday evening, there were unconfirmed reports that Russian planes were flying in thousands of troops. | Amid the closure of airspace over Crimea's regional capital Simferopol on Friday evening, there were unconfirmed reports that Russian planes were flying in thousands of troops. |
Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh said on Saturday there are now an extra 6,000 Russian troops in Crimea, alongside an additional 30 armoured vehicles. | Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh said on Saturday there are now an extra 6,000 Russian troops in Crimea, alongside an additional 30 armoured vehicles. |
Under the agreement governing the presence of the fleet in Crimea, the Russians must co-ordinate all troop movements outside the fleet's base with the Ukrainian authorities beforehand. | Under the agreement governing the presence of the fleet in Crimea, the Russians must co-ordinate all troop movements outside the fleet's base with the Ukrainian authorities beforehand. |
The newly-elected pro-Moscow leader of Crimea, Sergiy Aksyonov, earlier said he had appealed to Mr Putin for help to ensure peace on the peninsula - a request which the Kremlin said it would "not leave unnoticed". | |
Events in Crimea have angered the new interim government in Kiev - which does not recognise the province's new leadership - and has alarmed Western leaders. | |
Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov accused Russia of trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict", but said they would not react. | Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov accused Russia of trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict", but said they would not react. |
US President Barack Obama has warned of the "costs" of any Russian intervention in the Ukraine. | US President Barack Obama has warned of the "costs" of any Russian intervention in the Ukraine. |
Meanwhile, big pro-Russian rallies are being held in several Ukrainian cities outside Crimea. |