The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry insisted in a statement issued Friday that nuclear facilities located on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea belong to Ukraine despite the fact that the region rejoined Russia over a year ago following referendum.

The remark followed Russia's reaction to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) annual report. On Monday, Moscow informed the IAEA Board of Governors that it disagreed with nuclear facilities in Crimea being defined as part of Ukraine in the agency's report.

On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating that Moscow had taken on responsibilities for all nuclear facilities located on the Crimean peninsula and would operate them exclusively in peaceful purposes.

"Russia's wrongful act has no legal consequences for the status of the autonomous Republic of Crimea as an integral part of Ukraine's territory... All nuclear facilities, installations and materials, which are located in the autonomous Republic of Crimea and [special status city of] Sevastopol are the property of Ukraine," the ministry's statement read.

Crimea and its special-status port city of Sevastopol rejoined Russia following a region-wide referendum in March 2014.

Kiev and its Western allies have not recognized the results of the referendum, accusing Russia of violating Ukraine's territorial integrity. Moscow, in turn, has repeatedly stated the the reunification had fully complied with the international law.

Source: Sputnik News