The Donetsk City Council, at an extraordinary session on March 1, convened at the request of pro-Russian activists, decided to consider itself the only legitimate authority in the city, reports the publication Zn.Ua. According to the publication, this decision was approved unanimously.

The head of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation, Alexander Klishas, ​​reported that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych addressed the upper house of the Russian parliament and supports comprehensive assistance and protection of the residents of Crimea. "This appeal is sufficient grounds for us to support the appeal of President Vladimir Putin that was received by us," Klishas emphasized.

Vincent Mundy / Bloomberg Ukraine's overdue debt for Russian gas supplies amounts to more than $1.5 billion; with such a level of debt and payment, the country may not be able to maintain the current discount on gas, said Gazprom official representative Sergei Kupriyanov. "We have good relations with Ukraine, transit is going on, but we have to pay for the gas... At the moment, the overdue debt is $1.549 billion.

Russia is extremely concerned about the latest developments in Crimea, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "On the night of March 1, unknown armed men sent from Kyiv attempted to seize the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. As a result of the treacherous provocation, there are casualties. Thanks to the decisive actions of self-defense units, the attempt to seize the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was prevented.

The Federation Council's Defense and International Affairs Committees have approved President Vladimir Putin's request to use the Russian Armed Forces on Ukrainian territory until the situation in that country stabilizes. This was announced at an extraordinary meeting of the Federation Council.

March 01, 2014, 20:01 / Opinions Andrey Zubov: It already happened We are on the verge of complete destruction of the system of international treaties, economic chaos and political dictatorship Andrey Zubov Friends. We're on the threshold. We are on the verge of not including a new entity into the Russian Federation. We are on the verge of complete destruction of the system of international treaties, economic chaos and political dictatorship.

D. Abramov / Vedomosti Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Federation Council for permission to use the Armed Forces on Ukrainian territory, RIA Novosti reports. Earlier, the State Duma Council and the Federation Council called on Vladimir Putin to use all available opportunities to protect the population of Crimea.

Demonstrations of opponents of the new Ukrainian government are taking place in the eastern regions of Ukraine. According to ZaDonbass.Org, more than ten thousand people came out to protest under Russian flags in Donetsk. The protesters said they supported "Crimea's desire to reunite with Russia." The protesters tried to storm the regional administration building. After the activists failed to enter the building, they lowered the Ukrainian flag and raised the Russian one in its place.

European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule calls for de-escalation of the situation in Crimea and respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. "I join the calls for de-escalation of the situation in Crimea. The sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine must be respected," Fule expressed his position on the events in Crimea on Saturday.

D. Abramov / Vedomosti The Federation Council has granted President Vladimir Putin's request to introduce troops into Ukrainian territory. The decision was made unanimously. Prior to this, the Federation Council committees on defense and international affairs also approved the president’s appeal to use the Russian Armed Forces on Ukrainian territory until the situation in that country stabilizes.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy Robert Serry has cancelled his previously planned visit to Crimea. " The consent that our president received does not literally mean that this right will be implemented immediately," he told reporters. "I maintained contacts with the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. As a result, I came to the conclusion that a visit is currently impossible," the diplomat said in a statement.

Viktor Yanukovych and his son Alexander are on the list of people whose accounts have been frozen in Austria. The Austrian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the accounts of 18 Ukrainian citizens in Austrian national banks were frozen indefinitely, but did not provide names. According to Reuters, the list also includes former head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Andriy Klyuyev.

15 photos In the coming years, 20 stadiums with 650 thousand seats will be built in Russia, and most of them will cost investors much more than similar arenas in Europe. According to KMPG analysts, more than $8 billion will have to be spent on stadiums by 2018.

Urgent de-escalation is needed in Crimea, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Saturday. " The consent that our president received does not literally mean that this right will be implemented immediately," he told reporters. "NATO allies continue to closely coordinate," he wrote on his microblog. "Russia must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, its territorial integrity and borders, including the movement of Russian troops in Ukraine," the NATO Secretary General emphasized.

9 photos The court changed the preventive measure for Alexei Navalny from a recognizance not to leave the place to house arrest, a Vedomosti correspondent reports from the Basmanny courtroom. He is prohibited from leaving or changing his place of registration, communicating with any persons other than close relatives, lawyers and investigators, using any means of communication and the Internet, or making statements to the press regarding the criminal case.