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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously planning sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a successful operation using its own drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.