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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian military and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was also expected to soon completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six people, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.