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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.