UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said here Wednesday that he will veto a draft resolution of the UN Security Council which intends to refer the Syrian civil war to the International Criminal Court.

Churkin, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks as he was speaking to reporters here at the end of a closed-door meeting of the Security Council on the situation of eastern Ukraine.

Asked whether Russia will veto the draft resolution on Syria, Churkin said, "Yes, (I) will do."

Russia has voiced its opposition to the referral of Syria to the International Criminal Court.

The 15-nation Security Council is expected to vote on the draft resolution on Thursday.

Under the UN Charter, Russia is one of the five permanent council members with veto power.

France, another permanent council member, circulated the draft resolution on May 12 in a bid to bring Syria before the International Criminal Court for review of war crimes and crimes against humanity.