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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary main domestic plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.