DHAKA: Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are preparing to hold elections which the West has denounced as illegitimate.

Presidential and parliamentary polls are being held in the two self-proclaimed ‘people’s republics’ in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukraine, the US and EU say they will not recognise the Russia-backed votes, reports the BBC.

At least seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed on Friday amid intensified clashes in the region.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions fell to separatists after months of fighting in east Ukraine that ended with the Minsk ceasefire deal in September.

Rebel leaders say that as independent states they are not required to observe Ukrainian law and therefore did not participate in Ukraine’s national elections last week.

They say three million ballots have been printed for the polls, which will provide for directly elected presidents and parliaments.

‘These elections are important because they will give legitimacy to our power and give us more distance from Kiev,’ Roman Lyagin, election commission chief of the Donetsk region, told the media.

BDST: 1256 HRS, NOV 02, 2014