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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major 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 Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route 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 Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.