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FormerPresident Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.