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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.