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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not actively planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Without Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Russia, as reported by market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main Turkish plants to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukraine's leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than six people, including two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian strikes on the region.