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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.