Trump Says He Is Not Planning Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.
Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Lack
While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.
Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources
Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.
STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases
Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.
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At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded 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 the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”
Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System
The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.
Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power
Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.