Trump States He Is Not Contemplating Providing Long-Range Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.
Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage
Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.
Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources
Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources
A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.
Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases
Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.
Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City
Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.
Recent Updates in Pokrovsk
No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network
The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.
Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity
Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.
