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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

Another major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative types of crude, according to two sources. The company was also likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.