UN declares Crimea vote illegal

The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity and calling the referendum that led to Russia's annexation of its Crimean peninsula illegal.

The vote on the Ukraine-sponsored resolution was 100 countries in favour, 11 opposed and 58 abstentions.

The "yes" vote was higher than many diplomats had predicted, and the fact that more than half the 193 UN member states supported the resolution reflected widespread international opposition to Russia's military intervention and takeover of the strategic Black Sea region.

Unlike the more powerful Security Council, resolutions in the General Assembly cannot be vetoed but are not legally binding.

Russia has blocked action in the Security Council where they have veto power as one of its five permanent members.

Even so, the 15-member council has held eight meetings on Ukraine, as Western powers strive to keep up the pressure on Moscow.

Before the vote, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia told the assembly that his country's territorial integrity and unity had been "ruthlessly trampled" by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council entrusted to maintain international peace and security, and in direct violation of the UN Charter.

"By voting in favour of this resolution you vote in favour of the UN Charter while voting against or abstaining equals undermining it," Deshchytsia said in urging a "yes" vote.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin urged a "no" vote, saying a historic injustice in Crimea has been corrected and its people had expressed their right to self-determination in wanting to join Russia.

He called the resolution "confrontational in nature" and said it would be "counterproductive" to challenge the results of the referendum.