Trump Says He Is Not Considering Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage
Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.
Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources
Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.
STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources
A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases
Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.
Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in Pokrovsk
No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network
The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.
Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, including two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.