Donald Trump States He Is Not Planning Sending Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.
FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.
Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Lack
While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.
Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies
Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.
SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Sources
One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.
Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases
Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.
Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City
Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.
Recent Updates in the City
No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”
Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense System
Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity
Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities 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 aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.
