Trump Affirms He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.
Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Lack
While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources
Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.
STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement
A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.
Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys
Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.
Latest Updates in Pokrovsk
No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System
The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity
Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.
