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Ex-President Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist on Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless managed to wage a successful campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future entirely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its two major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, said the nation's ombudsman. The strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.