Moscow: President Vladimir Putin won approval from Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, to send Russian troops into Ukrainian territory yesterday.

A man gestures in front of armed individuals blocking the centre of Balaklava. Russia’s parliament gave President Vladimir Putin (left) the go-ahead to send troops into Ukraine. Pic/AFP

Putin’s request was approved unanimously. Speaker Valentina Matviyenko also ordered the Council’s foreign affairs committee to ask Putin to recall the Russian ambassador from the United States. The envoy Putin sent to the debate made clear afterwards that it was up to the president to decide when to use the right granted to him.