🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.