🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.