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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but processing companies are following India's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary main domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.