🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.