More than 55 members of the United Nations have condemned Russia for holding a presidential election in Ukrainian regions that it has unilaterally declared to have annexed.

Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, flanked by the delegates from other member states, read out a joint statement at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday.

It read, "We condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation's illegitimate attempts to organize Russian presidential elections in temporarily occupied areas within the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine."

It also said: "Holding elections in another UN member state's territory without its consent is in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such elections have no validity under international law."

The members demanded that Russia "refrain from holding illegitimate elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine" and "immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces" from Ukraine.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also issued a statement condemning Russia's efforts to hold presidential elections in occupied areas of Ukraine.

At a Security Council meeting, Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, criticized the statements as an interference in domestic affairs.

He argued, "The vote will take place fully in line with" Russia's constitution. He called on "all of my fellow citizens in these three days to go to the polls and to participate to make their free choice."