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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.