"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses a strong protest and condemns the illegal organization and conduct by Russia on September 13, 2020 of the so-called" elections "to illegal bodies formed by the Russian occupation administration in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol," the press release says.

Kiev called the elections in Crimea "a gross violation of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

It also called on foreign states and international organizations to condemn the voting in Crimea and "to increase political and diplomatic pressure on Russia, including by expanding sanctions."

In late August, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest to Russia in connection with the visit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Crimea.

Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which most residents voted in favor of reunification with Russia.