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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was also expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its two major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.