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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful 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 hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.