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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without breaching the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.