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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct 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 targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least six people, among them two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.