🔗 Share this article

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.