Trump States He Isn't Contemplating Sending Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.
Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack
Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies
Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources
A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases
The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City
Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.
Recent Developments in Pokrovsk
At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System
The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power
Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.