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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.