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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.