🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.