🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.