The first convoy of refugees prepares to leave Sumy via humanitarian corridor

The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine surged past 2 million, the UN said on Tuesday as residents of Sumy boarded buses to flee the besieged northeastern Ukrainian city through a humanitarian corridor. Russia also announced the opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from the capital Kyiv as well as Cherhihiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol. Follow our live blog for the day’s latest developments.

• Residents of Sumy boarded buses to flee the besieged northeastern Ukrainian city on Tuesday in the city’s first evacuation through a humanitarian corridor agreed with Russia.
• Thousands of people also fled the Kyiv suburb of Irpin on foot over a makeshift bridge as the fighting around the Ukrainian capital intensified.
• A second senior Russian commander was killed in the battlefield, according to Ukrainian military and intelligence officials. Russia has not commented on the report.
• The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine surged past 2 million on Tuesday, according to the UN.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping urged "maximum restraint" over Ukraine but stopped short of condemning the Russian invasion in a video summit with the leaders of France and Germany.
• Energy giant Shell on Tuesday said it will stop purchasing Russian crude oil and shut down its operations in Ukraine.

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