Russia’s upper house voted unanimously on Tuesday, allowing President Vladimir Putin to use army abroad. This comes as Moscow deployed troops to seperatist areas in eastern Ukraine, which it now recognises as independent entities, to ‘maintain peace’. 

Also read: What is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline? Explained

Moscow is facing backlash from Western leaders, who say that troops have moved into the rebel-held areas. But it was unclear how large the movements were. Russia denies those allegations.

Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside Russia — effectively formalising a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people.

Also read: What are the sanctions Russia is facing over the Ukraine crisis?

Putin’s move to recognize the territories’ independence opened the door for him to formalise his hold on them and send forces in, though Ukraine and its Western allies have charged Russian troops have been fighting there for years. Moscow denies those allegations. 

World leaders condemned Russia’s recognition. The White House said that President Joe Biden ‘strongly condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to purportedly recognize the independence of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine’. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is slapping sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals over Russia’s latest military moves on Ukraine.

Also read: Ukraine president to nation: ‘We are not afraid of anyone’

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel said it would also “target trade from the two breakaway regions to and from the EU.”

With inputs from the Associated Press