Trump Affirms He Isn't Planning Supplying Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.
Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack
While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources
Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.
STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement
One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.
Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases
Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.
Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City
Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.
Latest Developments in the City
At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network
The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.
Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.