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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.