Kyiv, March 8 : Mayor of Irpin Oleksandr Markushyn on Tuesday said he has rejected the Russian forces demand to surrender the town. CNN quoted the mayor as saying in a Telegram post that he he had received a threat on his “life and health and demanding for the complete surrender of Irpin” the previous day. He said, “I’m surprised that these monsters still haven’t understood — Irpin doesn’t give up, Irpin can’t be bought, Irpin fights! “I have a counter-offer to the occupiers to leave (the) Irpin comm ty within 24 hours and save the lives and health of several thousand Russian conscripts, whose mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and partner are waiting for them at home.” Earlier, the UK Defence Ministry had slammed the Russian forces for targeting evacuation corridors and killing “several civilians” who were trying to flee Irpin. According to Ukrainian State Emergency Services, nine people including two children were killed in a Russian air strike of the northeastern city of Sumy on Monday night. CNN quoted the interior ministry as saying that the Russian forces had targeted an apartment building. One injured woman was rescued from the rubble. Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said the region is with no electricity, heat and water. “Sumy, north Ukraine. Whole region without electricity, heat, water. But still standing. Tonight Russia bombs killed 9 people, 2 of them children. The courage continues, despite no #NoFlyZoneOverUkraine,” she tweeted. VP RNJ