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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.