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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We've boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.