🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively planning sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.