MADRID 

Spanish retailer Mango on Thursday joined a string of big companies suspending their commercial activities in Russia over its war on Ukraine.

In a statement, the company said it decided to temporarily close its stores in Russia and that no goods will be shipped there for the time being.

In total, Mango has suspended sales at 120 outlets in Russia, 55 of which are its own and 65 which are operated by franchisees.

The statement said the company was following Russia's war on Ukraine and the geopolitical situation in the region with sadness and concern.

The company also said it would try to support its employees, which total 800 in Russia and 116 in Ukraine, in the coming months.

It joins a list of big companies that have decided to boycott Russia, including H&M, IKEA, Volkswagen, Nike, Apple, Volvo, Daimler, Netflix, Disney, MSC and Maersk.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US and UK among others implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

According to UN figures, 227 civilians have been killed and 525 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war. Ukrainian authorities, however, have put the death toll at over 2,000.

More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, the UN Refugee Agency said.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan