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Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.