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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.