Donald Trump Says He Isn't Considering Sending Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage
Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement
A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment.
Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases
Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.
Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in Pokrovsk
No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System
The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.
