German chancellor Olaf Scholz, has ruled out sending fighter jets to Ukraine, despite pleas to create a "fighter jet coalition".
His decision comes just days after committing to supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
This announcement, along with the United States pledge of M1 Abrams tanks to Kyiv, is said to have infuriated the Kremlin.
During an interview with a German newspaper, Olaf Scholz also warned against a bidding war for weapons.
He said: "The fact we've only just made a decision (on sending tanks) and the next debate is firing up in Germany, that just seems frivolous".
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news...
One in four of Russian troops are convicts freed from jail
UK military expert Ian Stubbs revealed that one in four Russian troops fighting in Ukraine are convicts that have been released from jail.
They have been promised a full pardon for the crimes they were convicted of if they survive for six months on the front line.
Mr Stubbs said: “Wagner has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign. It almost certainly commands up to 50,000 fighters.
“At least 40,000 of these appear to be convicts. This means approximately one quarter of all Russian personnel serving in Ukraine are convicts recruited by Wagner.
“However we see evidence of tension between the military leadership and Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin.”
Russia reportedly conducts offensive in Donetsk Oblast
According to the General Staff, Russian military conducted an offensive in Donetsk Oblast today, The Kyiv Independent reports.
The report added that the offensive was conducted toward the settlements of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka.
650 Russians killed according to Ukraine
Ukraine’s armed forces have claimed that 650 Russian soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours.
The total number of losses is estimated to be 126,160 according to Ukraine.
Zelensky: We need faster supplies, new weapons to confront 'tough' situation
Ukraine is facing a "very tough" situation in the eastern Donetsk region and needs faster weapons supplies and new types of weaponry to withstand Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday.
"The situation is very tough. Bakhmut, Vuhledar and other sectors in Donetsk region -- there are constant Russian attacks," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.
"Russia wants the war to drag on and exhaust our forces. So we have to make time our weapon.
"We have to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine."
Pentagon urged by US military to send F-16s to Ukraine
US military officials are asked the Pentagon to provide Ukraine with F-16 jets to help protect people from Russian missiles and drones.
It comes after over on Friday through Saturday, Ukraine suffered a series of attacks from Russian forces.
Friends say their last goodbye to volunteer Andrew Bagshaw
On Sunday, friends and volunteers gathered together in Kyiv’s St Sophias Cathedral to say their last goodbye to Andrew Bagshaw, 48.
The New Zealand-British national went missing earlier in January along with Briton Christopher Parry while going to the town of Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region, where there was heavy fighting.
The two volunteers were evacuating people from a front-line Ukrainian town.
German chancellor says he won't send fighter jets to Ukraine
Just days after committing to supplying Ukraine with tanks, the German chancellor has now ruled out sending fighter jets to the country.
In an interview with Tagesspiegel, Mr Scholz said his focus was on the delivery of German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
He said: ''The fact we've only just made a decision [on sending tanks] and the next debate is firing up in Germany, that just seems frivolous.''
In pictures - Russian shelling in Kherson causes damage to hospital
A regional hospital in Kherson has been severely damaged following Russian shelling.
'Ukraine can continue to rely on the support of the Czech Republic', says Petr Pavel
Petr Pavel has today thanked President Zelensky and ensured Ukraine can rely on continued support from the Czech Republic.
Pavel said: ''I thank the President @ZelenskyyUa for his congratulations on the results of the presidential elections and the invitation to visit Kyiv.
''During our phone call today, I assured him that Ukraine can continue to rely on the support of the Czech Republic.''
Zelensky personally congratulates Petr Pavel
President Zelensky has today congratulated Petr Pavel on winning the Czech presidential elections.
Taking to Twitter, the Ukrainian leader wrote: ''I personally congratulated Petr Pavel @general_pavel on winning the Czech presidential elections.
''Thanked him and the Czech people for their unwavering support. Invited him to visit Ukraine.''
I personally congratulated Petr Pavel @general_pavel on winning the Czech presidential elections. Thanked him and the Czech people for their unwavering support. Invited him to visit 🇺🇦.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 29, 2023North Korea denies providing Russia with weaponry
Washington had accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia.
On Sunday, director general of the Department of US Affairs, Kwon Jong Gun said: “Trying to tarnish the image of (North Korea) by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that cannot but trigger its reaction.”
The statement, released through the official Korean Central News Agency, added that the US would face “really undesirable result” if it kept spreading the “self-made rumour”.
Three people reported to have been killed and five injured in Russian shelling of Kherson
According to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, the January 29 attack in Kherson has killed three and injured five others.
The attack is said to have damaged a hospital, school, bus station, post office, bank, and multiple residential buildings.
All injured have been hospitalised, according to the report.
Hopes for South Africa to convince Russia to stop war
EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that he’s hopeful that South African convinces Russia to end the Ukraine war.
While speaking next to South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor, Borrell said: “This is not only a European war. It’s happening on European soil but affects the whole world.
“It’s not just South Africa and other African countries that must play a role at seeking peace. It’s all of us that must be seeking to arrive at a negotiated outcome to address the concerns of all the parties involved.”
Latest UK Ministry of Defence update
The UK MoD has today shared their latest intelligence update regarding the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The update reads: ''In recent weeks, the Russian Ministry of Education has provided more detail on the rollout of the previously announced plan to include basic military training in Russia’s secondary school curriculum.
''The module within the ‘Basics of Life Safety’ course will include training with AK series assault rifles and hand grenades, military drill and salutes, and the use of personal protective equipment.
''The lessons will become mandatory from 01 September 2023. In addition, in December 2022, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced a ‘military training basics’ programme for university students.
''The initiatives highlight the increasingly militarised atmosphere in wartime Russia, as well as being a (likely deliberate) evocation of the Soviet Union: similar training was mandatory in schools up to 1993.''
650 Russians killed according to Ukraine
Ukraine’s armed forces have claimed that 650 Russian soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours.
The total number of losses is estimated to be 126,160 according to Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin 'to launch pre-emptive strike on West in just weeks'
Secretary of Ukraine's national security and defence council, Oleksiy Danilov said that troops are preparing for a new wave of attacks from Russia.
They believe that Putin will strike again to mark the first anniversary of the war on February 24, 2023.
He told Radio Svoboda: "Now they are preparing for maximum activation, and they believe that by the anniversary they should have some achievements.
"There is no secret that they are preparing for a new wave by February 24, as they themselves say."
Friends say their last goodbye to volunteer Andrew Bagshaw
On Sunday, friends and volunteers gathered together in Kyiv's St Sophias Cathedral to say their last goodbye to Andrew Bagshaw, 48.
The New Zealand-British national went missing earlier in January along with Briton Christopher Parry while going to the town of Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region, where there was heavy fighting.
The two volunteers were evacuating people from a front-line Ukrainian town.
Ukrainian tank crews arrive in the UK for traning
The UK's Ministry of Defence announced the tank crews from Ukraine have arrived in Britain.
The crews will be undergoing training on how to use and maintain and everything they need to know about the Challenger 2 tanks which will be provided to Ukraine.
Ukrainian tank crews have arrived in the UK to begin training for their continued fight against Russia.
The UK will provide Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine alongside global partner nations - demonstrating the strength of support for Ukraine, internationally.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/OLKtllePzN
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 29, 2023One in four of Russian troops are convicts freed from jail
UK military expert Ian Stubbs revealed that one in four Russian troops fighting in Ukraine are convicts that have been released from jail.
They have been promised a full pardon for the crimes they were convicted of if they survive for six months on the front line.
Mr Stubbs said: “Wagner has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign. It almost certainly commands up to 50,000 fighters.
"At least 40,000 of these appear to be convicts. This means approximately one quarter of all Russian personnel serving in Ukraine are convicts recruited by Wagner.
"However we see evidence of tension between the military leadership and Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin.”
Austrian lender claims that it's a target of Ukraine's sanctions
Raifessen Leasing Russia - a unit of Austrian lender Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) said that it has become one of the 182 companies targeted by Ukrainian sanctions.
RBI operates in both Russia and Ukraine - which called for companies such as RBI to leave Vladimir Putin's nation.
Half of its profit is earned from Russia making it one of the most exposed European banks to the market.
An RBI spokesperson said: "The political decision of the Ukrainian government to put around 30 Russian leasing companies, including Raiffeisen Leasing Russia, on a sanctions list means that leased goods of Raiffeisen Leasing Russia's customers can be confiscated on Ukrainian territory.
"Raiffeisen Leasing Russia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raiffeisenbank Russia. The leasing volume it financed amounted to 362 million euros ($393 million) at the end of December 2022. It has not concluded any new leasing contracts since the outbreak of the war."
Germany's Scholz on speaking with Putin
The Berlin daily Tagesspiegel published an interview with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in which he said: "I will also speak to Putin again because it is necessary to speak.
"The onus is on Putin to withdraw troops from Ukraine to end this horrendous, senseless war that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives already."
The last time Scholz and Putin spoke was over the phone in December when the Russian President told Germany to rethink their approach as at the time the German and Western line on Ukraine was "destructive."
Vladimir Putin open to communicate with Germany
A Kremlin spokesman told the state RIA Novosti news that Russian president Vladimir Putin is open to speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "For now, there are no agreed talks (with Scholz) in the schedule. Putin has been and remains open to contacts.
North Korea denies providing Russia with weaponry
Washington had accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia.
On Sunday, director general of the Department of US Affairs, Kwon Jong Gun said: "Trying to tarnish the image of (North Korea) by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that cannot but trigger its reaction."
The statement, released through the official Korean Central News Agency, added that the US would face "really undesirable result" if it kept spreading the "self-made rumour".
Pentagon urged by US military to send F-16s to Ukraine
US military officials are asked the Pentagon to provide Ukraine with F-16 jets to help protect people from Russian missiles and drones.
It comes after over on Friday through Saturday, Ukraine suffered a series of attacks from Russian forces.
The danger that will follow for years to come from landmines
More than 40% of Ukraine is now contaminated with mines and experts believe that it is now the most-mined country in the world.
Kateryna Templeton from the Mines Advisory Group told Sky News that the contamination is so "massive" that it isn't "even comparable to Syria and Afghanistan."
Since the start of the war on February 24, 2022, to January 10, 2023, there have been 611 mine-related casualties recorded in Ukraine.
These make the land very dangerous, in fact, agricultural production has already been affected.
Meanwhile, newly-liberated towns may remain dangerous to live in for a long time after the Russians have been forced out.
