Russia-Ukraine News: Evacuation of Sumy, Irpin is in progress
Civilians tried to flee Sumy and Irpin after Russia announced a new ceasefire.
- According to Ukrainian authorities, civilians are being evacuated from the besieged area of Irpen near the capital Kyiv and northeastern Sumy.
- Russia has declared another ceasefire and opened several humanitarian corridors.
- Moscow said refugees would be allowed to travel to safer locations in Ukraine after Kyiv rejected previous plans to divert civilians to Russia and Belarus.
- The UN refugee chief said the number of people fleeing the Russian offensive had reached two million.
- Moscow has threatened to close a significant gas pipeline to Germany as Western powers consider a ban on Russian oil.
- British oil giant Shell will stop buying Russian oil and divest its stake in its hydrocarbons.
The progress of Russian troops in Ukraine has "slowed significantly," said presidential adviser Vladimir Zelenskyy. In a specific direction in which they are advancing, [progress] practically stops," Alexei Arestovich said at a television briefing, adding that Ukrainian forces were carrying out counter-attacks in several areas.
"Powers that advance further advance with little power.
British oil giant Shell last week apologized for buying dwindling supplies of Russian crude and said it would completely withdraw from any stake in the country's hydrocarbons.
"We are fully aware that our decision last week to purchase a shipment of Russian crude for processing into products such as gasoline and diesel - while supply security is a priority - was not the right decision," said Shell boss Ben van Beurden.
The company said it would immediately suspend all spot purchases of Russian crude and close refueling stations and aviation fuel and lubricants operations in Russia.
He added that the withdrawal from Russian oil products, pipeline gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be "gradual."
The UN agency confirmed Monday that at least nine people have died in 16 separate attacks on health facilities since the Russian invasion began on February 24.
Catherine Smallwood, WHO's a senior emergency officer for Europe, told a news conference that the number had been "rising quite rapidly in the last few days."
At the same briefing, WHO Director for Europe Hans Kluge told reporters that the agency was working to quickly deliver medical supplies to Ukraine, where stocks of oxygen, insulin, personal protective equipment, surgical supplies, and blood products are running low.