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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.