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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.