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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.