AKIPRESS.COM - The Crimean city of Sevastopol has voted to join Russia and break all relations with Ukraine, the PressTV reported.

The city’s council said on Friday that it had taken a decision to affiliate itself with the Russian Federation as a subject of the Russian Federation.

Sevastopol, which houses Russia's Black Sea Fleet, is the second largest port in Ukraine after the Port of Odessa.

The Sevastopol council’s declaration came hours after Crimean Parliament voted to become part of Russia and announced it would hold a referendum on March 16 to allow voters to decide on the measure.

The new Ukrainian Government, however, has declared the planned vote illegal, and opened a criminal investigation against Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Askyonov.

“This is an illegitimate decision and this so-called referendum has no legal grounds at all. That's the reason why we urge the Russian Government not to support those who support separatism in the Ukraine,” interim Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said.

As a result, Ukraine refused to provide Crimea's capital Simferopol with list of voters to hold the referendum in 9 days.