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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.