The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged sports governing bodies to cancel events in Russia and Belarus.

Russia violated the Olympic Truce by invading Ukraine on Thursday, just four days after the Winter Games concluded in Beijing.

The International Olympic Committee urged sports organisations on Friday to cancel or relocate all events planned in Russia and Belarus, as well as refrain from using the countries' flags and national anthems.

The Olympic Committee made the request after UEFA relocated the Champions League final from St. Petersburg to suburban Paris, and after the governing bodies of skiing and Formula One cancelled upcoming races in Russia.

Both volleyball and shooting will hold world championships in Russia. A World Cup qualifying playoff match against Poland is also scheduled for March 24 in Moscow.

Russia violated the Olympic Truce by invading Ukraine on Thursday, just four days after the Winter Games concluded in Beijing. Some Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus, a Russian ally.

It was Russia's third breach of the Olympic Truce in the last 14 years. Russia invaded Georgia during the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and annexed Crimea shortly after the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

According to the IOC, governing bodies "should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give absolute priority to the safety and security of the athletes."

The IOC said after a meeting of its executive board that the flags and national anthems of Russia and Belarus should not be used at international sporting events.

"The IOC (board) expresses deep concern about the safety of members of the Olympic community in Ukraine and stands in complete solidarity," it said.

The IOC also gave the International Paralympic Committee "full support" for the Winter Paralympics, which begin next month in Beijing.