🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.