Donald Trump Says He Isn't Planning Providing Tomahawk Missiles to Kyiv.
FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.
Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage
Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.
Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Sources
Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.
SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources
One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.
Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases
Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.
Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk
Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.
Latest Developments in Pokrovsk
No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”
Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System
The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.
Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity
Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.