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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not really contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.