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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.