In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, residents react to the latest news in their nation's conflict.

Russia voted on Saturday to approve sending its troops into Ukraine's eastern region of Crimea, where there's an ethnic Russian majority.

(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) NATALYA KYRYCHENKO, VOLYN REGION, SAYING:

"I think this is an invasion on the territory of another state."

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he needs to protect Russian citizens in Crimea and other security interests for Moscow.

But residents here are largely critical of the move, and especially of Putin himself.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) NELLI SHYLUKHINA, DONETSK REGION, SAYING:

"What does he need to deploy troops for? What for? Whom does he want to protect? Are there any threats for someone?"

(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) MIKHAIL PASCHUK, LUGANSK REGION, SAYING:

"His permission to deploy troops marks the beginning of the end of Putin's era. We must be calm, we must not be nervous, and