🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.