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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.