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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 children, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.