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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is not really considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was also expected to soon completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 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, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.