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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.