Russia has taken de facto control of Crimea, with thousands of troops on the ground securing the region, despite warnings from Europe and the US of the consequences.
The Russian upper house of parliament has approved the deployment of troops in Ukraine at the request of President Vladimir Putin.
President Vladimir Putin has asked the Russian upper house of parliament to approve the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine, says the Kremlin.
Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych holds a news conference in Russia amid rising tension in his home country, most notably in Crimea.
Uniformed and well-equipped armed men have occupied Sevastopol airport in the autonomous region of Crimea, with the Ukrainian government believing them to be a Russia-backed force.