Trump States He Is Not Planning Supplying Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine.

FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.