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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively contemplating supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to market insiders. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, according to sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. Tupras was also expected to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Russia pushes to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not providing additional information, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.