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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had claimed the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per insiders. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least 6 people, among them two minors, and cut power to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.