Donald Trump Says He Isn't Planning Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.
Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.
Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage
Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies
Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement
A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys
Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.
Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City
Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in Pokrovsk
At least two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence System
Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.
Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.
