Donald Trump Says He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage
While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies
Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.
STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources
A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.
Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys
Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.
Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.
Recent Developments in the City
At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.