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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.