🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.