Trump Says He Isn't Contemplating Sending Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.
Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage
Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources
Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement
A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases
Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.
Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk
Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.
Recent Developments in the City
No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network
The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power
Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.
