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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Moscow's assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.