FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage
While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.
Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources
Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources
One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.
Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases
Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.
Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City
Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in Pokrovsk
No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”
Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.
Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.
