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FormerPresident Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two children, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.