Trump Says He Isn't Planning Sending Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.
Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack
While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.
STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources
One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys
Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.
Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.
Recent Developments in Pokrovsk
No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System
The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity
Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.
