supply

Yet they found a seemingly unlimited supply of replacements.

In late October, pressure on Russian oil supplies mounted after the United States hit the country's two biggest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- with sanctions.

“China’s current strategic petroleum reserve and commercial stocks already provide a meaningful buffer against short-term supply disruptions,” said Kelly Xu, a commodity and energy strategist at Alpine Macro.

"Preparation to supply more food and non-food relief items to the victims is underway," said Murkomen, adding: "Military and police choppers are on standby to transport the items."

Pokrovsk, in Ukraine's Donetsk region, lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow's sights for over a year.