Ukraine has cut back water supply to Crimea

Ukraine has reduced its water supplies to the Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia last month, the region's governor Sergei Aksyonov said Saturday.

"Ukraine's sabotage limiting the water supply to the republic through the North Crimea canal can only be qualified as premeditated action against the people of Crimea," Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying.

Ukrainian media reported earlier Saturday that authorities in Kiev had closed the lock valves of the canal, which supplies up to 85 percent of the peninsula's water.

But Aksyonov vowed that Crimea would not run out of water as the region had emergency supplies and talks were being held with Ukrainian officials to find a solution.

"There is no drinking water problem," he said on his Twitter account, adding that farmers would be compensated.

Crimea also depends on Ukraine for its electricity supplies.