Ukraine war latest: Russia closing in on key city - as North Korean troops 'suffer high casualties'

Ukrainian official demands apology from FIFA over Crimea map

A Ukrainian official has demanded an apology from FIFA after a map displayed during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday excluded Crimea from the country's territory. 

Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi claimed the map indicates the football body "supported Russia propaganda". 

The map showed countries that could not be drawn to play each other for geopolitical reasons.

Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014 but is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine's territory. 

FIFA responded to a letter sent by the Ukrainian Association of Football on the matter, saying it "sincerely regrets any concern [the map] may have caused". 

FIFA has not responded to Sky News' request for comment.

EU adopts 15th package of sanctions against Russia - targeting Chinese entities

The European Union has adopted a 15th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. 

The bloc targeted Chinese entities and more vessels from Moscow's so-called shadow fleet. 

The package also included two top North Korean defence officials, a military unit blamed for an attack on a Kyiv children's hospital and the heads of companies in the energy sector.

It also adds 52 vessels from the shadow fleet that try to circumvent Western restrictions to move oil, arms and grains, the EU Commission said in a statement today. 

The EU began adding ships earlier this year in response to an increase in the number of vessels transporting cargo that are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers. 

The listing included vessels that delivered North Korean ammunition to Russia. 

The new restrictions also add 84 new individuals and entities, including seven Chinese persons and entities. 

"Namely one individual and two entities facilitating the circumvention of EU sanctions, and four entities supplying sensitive drone components and microelectronic components to the Russian military," the statement said, referring to the Chinese listings. 

EU sanctions chief David O'Sullivan and Ukrainian officials have pointed to China as the main route for sales of foreign technology to Russia. 

"This package of sanctions is part of our response to weaken Russia's war machine and those who are enabling this war, also including Chinese companies," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. 

"We will stand by the Ukrainian people on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, political, diplomatic and military."

Putin: 'The tide is turning in Russia's favour'

We're getting some more comments now from Vladimir Putin, who has been speaking at a defence meeting.

The Russian president said the large number of men signing up for the country's military voluntarily was turning the tide of the Ukraine war in Moscow's favour.

"I would like to point out that the past year was a landmark year in achieving the goals of the special military operation [in Ukraine]," Putin told top generals at the meeting in Moscow. 

"Russian troops have a firm grip on the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact," he said.

We reported earlier that around 427,000 troops had signed army contracts this year, up from roughly 300,000 the year before (see 11.11am and 11.29am posts). 

Speaking about this figure, Putin said: "This flow of volunteers is not ending. And thanks to this... we are seeing a turning point on the frontline."

The president also added that he hopes Russia's army keeps advancing - and they appear to be doing so at the fastest pace since 2022, according to open-source maps.

Vladimir Putin meets with defence officials in Moscow

Images have come in of President Vladimir Putin and defence minister Andrei Belousov addressing a large meeting of defence officials in Moscow today. 

Both men gave updates on Russia's progress in the war - see our posts at 11.11am and 11.29am.

Norway to give £191m to strengthen Ukrainian navy

Norway has said today it would provide 2.7 billion crowns (£191m) to strengthen the Ukrainian navy and help it deter Russian naval forces in the Black Sea. 

Much of the funding will go towards innovation and autonomy under the Maritime Capability Coalition, which Norway and the UK launched last year to make Ukraine's navy more compatible with Western allies, the government said. 

"It is essential to protect the Ukrainian population and Ukrainian infrastructure from attacks by Russia's Black Sea Fleet," Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement. 

"It is also important to protect exports by sea of grain and other products, which generate crucial revenues for Ukraine," he added. 

The support includes donations from the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as military equipment to be procured from industry for subsequent donation. 

The funding will also be used for mine clearance operations and the training of Ukrainian soldiers, the government said.

Putin: West is pushing Russia to its 'red lines'

Vladimir Putin has accused the West of pushing Russia to its "red lines" and said Moscow had been forced to respond.

In a meeting of defence officials (see 11.11am post), Putin said that Russia was watching the US development and potential deployment of short and medium-range missiles with concern.

He said Russia would lift all of its restrictions on the deployment of its own missiles if the US went ahead and deployed such missiles.

Putin, who said Russian forces in Ukraine have taken control of 189 settlements so far this year, said Russia's nuclear weapons were there for deterrence.

He also claimed that more than 1,000 people sign up for military service every day.

Russian troops 'advancing quickly' along frontline, defence minister says

Russia's defence minister Andrei Belousov has said the country's troops are advancing quickly along Ukraine's frontline. 

Mr Belousov said Russian soldiers have pushed Ukrainian forces out of almost 4,500 sq km (1,737 sq m) of territory this year and are advancing at an average of 30 sq km (11.5 sq m) a day.

At a meeting attended by Vladimir Putin and other defence officials, Mr Belousov also said 427,000 servicemen had signed contracts with the army this year - up from roughly 300,000 the year before - and that military spending had reached 6.3% of GDP.

Russia captures another village in the Donetsk region

Russian troops have taken control of the village of Yelyzavetivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Russian state news agency RIA reported this morning, citing the defence ministry. 

The Moscow-installed head of the region earlier told Russian state news agency TASS that Russia had captured Shevchenko, another village in Donetsk (see 6.54am post).

Shevchenko is 20km north of the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk. 

Ukraine has not confirmed the claims, but has noted Russian advances in the areas surrounding Pokrovsk in recent days

Ukraine destroys Russian ammunition depot in Donetsk

A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed a Russian ammunition depot near the village of Markine in Russian-occupied Donetsk region, a source told Reuters news agency. 

The depot stored thousands of ammunition rounds for armoured personnel carriers and tanks, anti-tank guided missiles, mines and grenades, plus millions of rounds of ammunition for guns of various calibres, the source in Ukraine's SBU state security service said. 

The attack also destroyed the nearby fuel storage facility, according to the source. 

At least 30 casualties in North Korean units over weekend, Ukraine says

 Ukraine has said that North Korea units fighting for Russia have seen at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded this weekend in several villages in the Russian region of Kursk.

The losses were recorded in the vicinity of the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka.

"Due to the losses, the assault groups are being replenished with fresh personnel, in particular from the 94th separate brigade of the DPRK army, to continue active combat operations in Kursk region," Ukraine's military spy agency said, without providing evidence. 

It is the first time the agency has provided details on North Korean losses. 

The Institute for the Study of War thinktank also noted unverified reports suggesting a contingent of Russian and North Korean troops had lost 200 soldiers after a Ukrainian drone swarm at the weekend. 

Troops from the country have joined Russian forces in trying to retake the Kursk region, occupied by Ukraine since August. 

Kyiv said North Korean forces first turned up in Russia's Kursk region in October but Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Koreans on its side. 

Ukraine estimates there are 11,000 North Koreans in total, adding to a force of tens of thousands of Russians.

Captured Ukrainian military hardware on display in Russia

Over the past few days, Russia has been putting captured Ukrainian military equipment on display.

These images, from Novocherkassk in the Rostov region, show locals posing for photos with US-made rifles and Ukrainian vehicles. 

Damaged Russian tankers carried 62,000 barrels of oil

Over the weekend, two Russian tankers in the Black Sea were badly damaged due to stormy weather.

At least one person was killed, and an emergency rescue operation was launched to evacuate both crews.

Now, Russian state media reports that the tankers carried some 62,000 barrels of crude oil between them. 

How much of the fuel leaked is being determined, TASS said. It said the Volgoneft 212 was carrying roughly 4,900 tons of fuel oil at the time, and the Volgoneft 239 4,300 tons. 

'A new environmental catastrophe is on its way,' charity warns after damaged Russian tankers cause oil spill

Trump's Ukraine comments 'in line with our vision', says Kremlin

The Kremlin last week praised Donald Trump after he criticised Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons for attacks deep in Russian territory.

Western allies have provided Ukraine with air defence systems to help it protect critical infrastructure, but Russia has sought to overwhelm the air defences with combined strikes involving big numbers of missiles and drones.

"It's crazy what's taking place. It's crazy. I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We're just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done," Mr Trump said in an interview with Time magazine.

The Kremlin on Friday said his stance was fully in line with Moscow's own position.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Mr Trump's comments were in line with "our vision of the causes of escalation".

Starmer accused of watering down support for Ukraine

Ukraine's former foreign minister has suggested that Sir Keir Starmer has watered down British support for Ukraine. 

Dmytro Kuleba, who left his post in September, said that Labour was more likely to "follow" the US than be bold in its support of Kyiv.

"The Conservatives were coordinating with the Americans but they did not restrict themselves to just following the Americans," he said in comments first reported by The Times.

"This is the change that came with Labour. They took a position they would follow the Americans."

He also said Boris Johnson "set the threshold high" when it came to support. 

"Rishi Sunak had no other choice but to meet the threshold and push it further. When the Labour government came into office, we received rock-solid assurances things would continue as they were. 

"To a large extent that was the case - except the story with the Storm Shadows," he said, noting the delay it took London to approve the use of the British missiles on Russian soil. 

Starmer only gave permission for Ukraine to use the missiles deep inside Russian territory after Joe Biden approved the use of American-supplied ATACMS in the same way. 

"The only unpleasant conversation I had with British officials a couple of weeks before my resignation... was about the delivery of Storm Shadows and permissions to use them against certain targets," Kuleba said. 

"Maybe the reason was the new government was cautious and they didn't want to rush with decisions."

Ukraine downs nearly 30 Russian drones overnight

Ukraine's military downed 27 of 49 drones sent by Russia overnight, according to the country's air force. 

Kyiv lost track of 19 of the drones, likely down to electronic interference with its tracking systems, while three remained in Ukrainian air space as of this morning, the air force added. 

-SKY NEWS