🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.