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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.