Donald Trump States He Is Not Planning Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.
Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage
While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases
The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City
Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk region.
Recent Updates in the City
No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System
The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.
Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.
