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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.