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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.