Donald Trump Says He Is Not Considering Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.
Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack
Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies
Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.
Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys
The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.
Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City
Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.
Recent Updates in the City
No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.