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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including two children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.