Trump Says He Is Not Contemplating Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.
Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Lack
While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its own drones and rockets against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies
Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.
STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources
One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases
The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.
Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.
Latest Developments in the City
At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power
Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.