March 2, 2014, 18:06

Russian President Vladimir Putin requested the Federation Council’s consent to deploy Russian troops in Crimea after a broadcast on Russian TV showing the purported death of Russian military servicemen as a result of shooting at the Crimean Council of Ministers building in Simferopol. The episode on shooting by “Ukrainian combatants” with covered faces and the bodies of Russian servicemen lying motionless on the road appeared on the Russian TV channel Vesti.

“At 3:20 pm, rapid machine fire was launched next to the Crimean Cabinet of Ministers building in Simferopol … 50 meters away, next to the Trade Unions building, unknown men wearing black uniforms and black face masks, as well as white ribbons tied around their arms, lay undercover, 50 meters away from the Cabinet of Ministers”, the Vesti journalist expained.