🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request 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 fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.