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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.