Trump Affirms He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack
Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources
Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.
STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases
The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.
Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City
Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.
Latest Updates in the City
No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System
Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.
Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power
Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.
