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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated 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.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past 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 aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.