🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and cut power to thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.