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FormerPresident Trump stated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western sanctions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian producers for December delivery, according to insiders. This amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. Tupras was also likely to soon completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main domestic refineries to maintain fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in Pokrovsk

At least 200 Moscow's troops had breached the city's defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. 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 Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukraine's president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.