🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.