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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to two sources. The company was also expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.