What has happened in the last 24 hours in the war in Ukraine

This is a summary of the most recent major developments in the war in Ukraine.

The Russian Defence Ministry has announced a ceasefire in the besieged port city of Marioupolis, starting yesterday morning to allow civilian evacuation.

According to the White House, Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinterpreted by his advisers, who fear to say how bad the war is going in Ukraine. The same intelligence sources, claim Putin is not being informed even of the full impact of sanctions on the Russian economy.

US defence officials say Russian forces are withdrawing from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Kiev area, as well as moving towards Belarus. But according to Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenki, Russian troops are focusing on the eastern region of Donba, a new offensive.

Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine has been hit by intense bombings. This was confirmed through a statement by the region's military governor, Oleh Synyehubov, who stressed that intense shelling has hampered the opening of evacuation corridors in the region.

British intelligence head Jeremy Fleming has declared that Russian troops in Ukraine are demoralised, without necessary equipment and are refusing to obey orders. It is clear that Vladimir Putin is misappreciating the situation. We are seeing that Russian soldiers are without weapons and low morals, sabotage and even fire their own jets”, British intelligence head Jeremy Fleming said.

The president of the separatist region of South Ossetia in Georgia could take concrete steps to join Russia. Moscow has recognised Abkazi's coastal territory as independent after the war against Georgia in 2008, and has repeatedly offered Russian financial assistance and citizenship to the population while positioning thousands of soldiers in that region.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has announced that he has signed the decree obliging foreign customers to buy gas with rubles, starting tomorrow. If they want to buy Russian natural gas, they have to open bank accounts in ruble, in Russian banks. Of these accounts will be paid for gas, starting tomorrow”, Putin said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacted after Russia's decision to accept only rubles for its gas, saying Germany was not planning to do so, but would pay it with euros, according to the contract the two countries have. /A2 CNN