Trump Affirms He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.
Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.
Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage
While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.
Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.
STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources
A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys
The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.
Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.
Latest Developments in the City
At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network
The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity
Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.