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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Russian authorities. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two main Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian assault involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than six people, including 2 minors, and cut electricity to thousands of households, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.