🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.