🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys 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 a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.