Crimea has declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia. Reports from Simferopol, Ukraine says, that the decision was taken by Crimea's regional assembly today following a controversial but overwhelming 96.6 per cent of voters on the mostly Russian-speaking peninsula chose to secede from Ukraine.

The assembly on Monday declared independence from Ukraine and applied to join Russia, saying all Ukrainian state property on the peninsula will be nationalised.

A document approved by the assembly said that Crimea also appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognise it as an independent state.

Crimea's local prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov also tweeted that starting on the 30th of this month the region will switch to Moscow time.

The document was approved by all 85 deputies present in the 100-seat assembly.

It said that from Monday, Ukrainian laws will no longer apply in Crimea and decisions taken by the Ukrainian state since the ouster of Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych last month had no authority.

The decision comes even as Europe prepared to hit Moscow with a wave of sanctions in the worst East-West stand-off since the Cold War.

The European Union said the referendum was illegal and illegitimate and its outcome would not be recognised.

In Brussels, European foreign ministers are expected to unfurl sanctions including visa bans and asset freezes against leading figures in Moscow.

US President Barack Obama phoned his Russian counterpartVladimir Putin on Sunday and told him the vote under duress of Russian military intervention would never be recognised by the United States and the international community.