2 million people have fled Ukraine since Russian assault started, U.N. says

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022 Good morning, NBC News readers.     More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion began just less than two weeks ago, the U.N.'s refugee agency said Tuesday, highlighting the human toll as fierce fighting continues across the country.    Here's the latest on the conflict and everything else we're watching this Tuesday morning.      Ukraine evacuates civilians from besieged city as 2 million flee Russian assault Evacuees stand under a destroyed bridge as they fled the Ukrainian city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on Monday. (Photo by Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP)   Ukraine began evacuating residents from one besieged city Tuesday along the first safe corridor established with Russia since Moscow invaded nearly two weeks ago, sparking a humanitarian crisis and an exodus of refugees from its democratic neighbor that has now reached 2 million.    As his country entered its 13th day of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded a defiant note in a speech from his office in the capital, Kyiv, condemning the Russian assault and saying that he was staying put and "not retreating," even as his armed forces warned their invaders were gathering strength for a new attack on the capital.   "It is like a nightmare for them," he said. "They forgot that we are not afraid of police vans, of tanks, of machine guns when the most important thing is on our side — truth."   On the other side, Moscow, facing fierce resistance and crippling sanctions, threatened to stop the flow of gas through pipelines from Russia to Europe.   Follow all the latest developments in our live blog and on NBC News Now.    Read here for more of our in-depth coverage:    What is a no fly zone, and why has NATO so far rejected it?  Sheltering from Putin's assault, Russian speakers in Ukraine reject Putin's pretext for war Shell to withdraw from Russian fossil fuels, shutter gas stations across Russia Tuesday's Top Stories Supreme Court rejects GOP efforts to block new congressional maps in North Carolina, Pennsylvania Republicans had asked the high court to block redistricting maps chosen by state courts that are expected to benefit Democrats. READ MORE Lead from gasoline blunted the IQ of about half the U.S. population, study says The peer-reviewed study focuses on people born before 1996 — the year the U.S. banned gas containing lead. READ MORE Southlake, Texas, rejected diversity lessons in schools. But a federal probe may demand them. A federal civil rights investigation could force a Texas suburb to implement the same types of diversity programs that voters rejected in landslide elections. READ MORE OPINION We're ex-prosecutors. But we're siding with the defense in Ghislaine Maxwell hearing. There is a reason the defense and the prosecution get the chance to strike potential jurors in all criminal trials: Even those who claim impartiality have backgrounds that point to potential unconscious biases, write two former federal prosecutors.  READ MORE Also in the News Covid will 'probably' become a seasonal virus, like the flu, CDC director Walensky says 1 teen dead, 2 critically injured in shooting at Iowa high school U.S. sends Saudi detainee accused of link to 9/11 home from Guantanamo Amazon suppliers linked to forced labor in China, watchdog group says It's not uncommon for WNBA players like Brittney Griner to compete in Russia. Here's why they do it Watch: Toddler dropped 2 stories into arms of first responders as N.J. fire raged Editor's Pick 'They cannot knock us down': Threatened with violence, Pakistani women vow to march "We want structural change, the kind of change that can't be measured but felt," one women's rights activist based in Lahore, Pakistan, said.  READ MORE One Fun Thing  Dolly Parton dedicates ACM awards show to people of Ukraine Dolly Parton made a plea for "peace in this crazy ol' world" as she dedicated Monday night's Academy of Country Music Awards show to the people of Ukraine.    "I want us to send our love and hope to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine," she said as she kicked off the festivities on one of country music's biggest nights.    Morgan Wallen won album of the year, while Miranda Lambert took home the night's top prize, entertainer of the year, for the first time after losing out in five previous years.    Read more about the awards here.  Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Petra Cahill     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy