The Russian Federation is conducting an all-Russian census on the territory of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
The illegal decision was condemned by Ukraine, the United States and European Union.
"Such actions by the Russian Federation are directed against the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and are a continuation of efforts to legitimize the attempted annexation of the temporarily occupied Crimea, to extend the effect of Russian legislation to its territory. Conducting a census in the temporarily occupied territory is an unfriendly act against our state, and we reserve the right to use retaliation," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The U.S. also condemned the census, calling it another attempt by Russia to undermine the sovereignty of Ukraine.
“The United States condemns Russia’s census in occupied Crimea as yet another attempt to undermine Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv wrote.
The EU called on Russia to stop violating international law and international humanitarian law in Crimea.
"The EU condemns the decision of the Russian Federation to conduct a population census in the illegally annexed Ukrainian territory of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol from 15 October until 14 November, and the launching of yet another conscription campaign on 1 October," it said in a statement.
The report indicated that the EU would continue to work for a peaceful end of Russia's illegal annexation of the peninsula, as reiterated at the first summit of the International Crimea Platform on 23 August. "The European Union will continue and to enforce its non-recognition policy," the statement added.
