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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 people, among them 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.