🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.