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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.