IKEA has decided to pause all retail operations in Russia as well as operations in Belarus, the Swedish furniture giant said in a letter to employees, seen by Interfax, and in an official statement.

Inter IKEA Group has taken the decision to pause all export and import in and out of Russia and Belarus, to pause all IKEA Industry production operations in Russia and to pause all IKEA Retail operations in Russia.

"The devastating war in Ukraine is a human tragedy and our deepest empathy and concerns are with the millions of people impacted. The immediate actions of Inter IKEA Group and Ingka Group have been to support the personal safety and security of IKEA co-workers and their families, and we will continue to do so," it said.