🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.