🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced 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 indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.