🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.