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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously considering providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective operation using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and harming two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, together with Beijing and India, but refiners are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum exports to the EU without breaching the European Union's upcoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive involving a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Ukrainian army and has been in Russia's sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Without providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.