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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in 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 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.