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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey 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 buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.