Donald Trump States He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.
Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack
Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.
Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources
Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources
One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment.
Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases
Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City
Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.
Latest Developments in the City
No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System
The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity
Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.
