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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.