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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.