70 people are leaving Odessa by bus today, bound for Bulgaria, Elena Valkova from the Association of Bulgarians in Ukraine said for the BNR. Another 100 people have been registered and are waiting for an evacuation window. More than 1,000 people have already been evacuated from Southern Ukraine. The Bulgarians in the besieged town of Mariupol are in a critical situation, Elena Valkova said further. As of 11 March posts will be put up on the border with Romania where Ukrainian refugees will be able to obtain temporary protection papers, entitling them to legally reside in the country, to work, and giving them access to healthcare, education and social support.

• PM Kiril Petkov to call for EU financial support over war in Ukraine
  

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov requested that the EU render financial support to Bulgaria and the countries neighbouring on Ukraine which are taking in refugees. The Bulgarian prime minister was speaking in Versailles, where he took part in the EU summit. The EU leaders decided to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine, though they will not offer a fast-track procedure.  

The Russian forces have moved 5 kms closer to Kyiv in the past 24 hours, according to a Pentagon source. The Russian forces are regrouping in the regions nearby which may signal a renewal of the pressure on the capital of Ukraine.