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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December arrival, according to sources. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two major domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Russian assault comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.