The approval follows the signing of EOs by President Putin on the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.
The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation has approved President Vladimir Putin’s request for the use of armed forces abroad.
This authorisation formalises any Russian military deployment and prepares the country’s troops to move into eastern Ukraine.
It comes after Putin signed executive orders (EO) to recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR).
Putin also signed federal laws with DPR head Denis Pushilin, and LPR head Leonid Pasechnik, on ratifying the treaties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance between Russia and the separatist states.