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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic plants to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.