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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed at least 6 individuals, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.