🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.