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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.