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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a journalist on his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, including oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its primary major Turkish plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's senior commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the whole east Donetsk area.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian troops had penetrated the city's defensive lines, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he said, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 people, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in one of the enemy strikes on the region.