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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, 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 defense network with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.