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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.