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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, among them two children, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut 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 one of the Russian attacks on the region.