🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.