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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s senior commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to control the entire east Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 people, including two children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the office of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its members were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.