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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault involving thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than six people, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.