KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has affirmed Crimea's status as part of Ukraine.

Ukrainian deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kyslytsya announced on Twitter Thursday that "UNESCO has confirmed that Crimea belongs to Ukraine irrespective of what Russia says and how [it] tries to bluff its way [through the Russian-Ukrainian crisis]."


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that UNESCO's Executive Board convened Thursday, voting overwhelmingly in favor of recognizing Crimea as part of Ukraine. Three out of the 25 member countries voted against.

#UNESCO Exec Board in its resolution urged Dir-Gen to monitor the situation in culture, science & education in #Crimea (UA) #CrimeaIsUkraine — MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) October 23, 2014

The Ukrainian government continues to refute Russia's claim of control over Crimea. On June 26, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg that "Our relations cannot be normalized [with Russia] without the return of Crimea."