🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.