🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.