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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.