Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.
Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack
Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys
Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.
Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.
Recent Developments in the City
At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System
The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity
Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.
