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Ex-President Trump stated on Sunday that he is not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 children, and cut power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.