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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

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

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian offensive involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.