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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was also likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said recently, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, including two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.