NEW YORK, Nov. 8 - Ukraine on Tuesday launched a bid at the United Nations to condemn rights abuses in Crimea and press Russia to allow UN monitors to visit the territory, AFP reported.

Backed by 38 countries including the United States, France and Britain, Ukraine presented a draft resolution that for the first time puts Crimea under scrutiny by the General Assembly's human rights committee.

"Crimea is not just a Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia," said Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko.