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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply 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 region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, 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-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, among them two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.