🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 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 office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.