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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, including 2 children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.