Trump Says He Isn't Considering Sending Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.
Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage
Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.
Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources
Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases
The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.
Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.
Recent Updates in Pokrovsk
At least 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power
Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.
