The Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament unanimously approved a request from President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to deploy military forces in Ukraine, in a move that could escalate a confrontation on the Crimean peninsula, RIA Novosti reports.
Putin issued his request in response to what he said was a threat to the lives of Russian citizens and military forces located in naval bases in Ukraine’s southern peninsula of Crimea.
All 90 Senators present in the 116-member Federation Council voted in support of armed action.
