Trump Says He Is Not Planning Supplying Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.
Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage
Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies
Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.
STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement
A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys
The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.
Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in the City
At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network
Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity
Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials 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 eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.
