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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not really planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Not providing additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.