🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.