Ukraine evacuates civilians from besieged city as 2 million flee Russian assault

Ukraine evacuated residents from a besieged city Tuesday along the first safe corridor established with Russia since Moscow invaded its democratic neighbor nearly two weeks ago, sparking a humanitarian crisis and an exodus of refugees that has now reached 2 million.

The Russian assault has stalled on the ground but brought increasing devastation from the air, leaving cities from Mariupol in the southeast to Sumy further north encircled and without heat, electricity, water and food.

The two countries agreed to a cease-fire in Sumy early Tuesday to let civilians escape the northeastern city after another night of heavy shelling there by Russian forces, and after days of failed efforts to evacuate people from hard-hit areas across the country.

As his country entered its 13th day of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded a defiant note in a speech from his office in Kyiv, saying that he was staying put and “not retreating" even as his armed forces warned their invaders were gathering strength for a new assault on the capital.