Trump States He Isn't Contemplating Supplying Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Kyiv.
Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.
Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Lack
Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.
Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources
Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.
STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement
One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.
Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys
Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.
Recent Updates in the City
At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network
Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity
Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.