Leaders of the G7 condemned the “sham” Russian referendums being carried out in occupied Ukraine as a “phony” pretext to illegally seize territory.

In a assertion on Friday night, the group of the wealthiest nations mentioned that the votes organized by Moscow had been in breach of the U.N. Constitution and worldwide legislation and had no legitimacy.

Russia began on Friday asking individuals within the areas of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the event that they wished to affix Russia, in an try and formalize the annexation of the 4 areas. The self-styled referendums will happen over 5 days.

Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.Ok. and the U.S. referred to as out Russia’s “blatant intimidation of native populations” who’ve “persistently resisted Russian efforts to alter borders by drive.” Armed troopers have been going door-to-door to assemble votes, in accordance to media stories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday denounced the Moscow-initiated votes as a “farce.” He additionally requested residents of the occupied areas to cover from Russia’s mobilization “by any means,” after Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced this week that 300,000 reservists could be referred to as up.

The referendums come because the U.N. mentioned on Friday that Russia had dedicated struggle crimes in Ukraine together with the bombings of civil areas, abstract executions, torture and sexual violence together with towards kids. Investigators visited 27 Ukrainian cities and settlements and interviewed over 150 victims and witnesses, it mentioned.