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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian military and strategic targets, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent international restrictions on Russia, according to market insiders. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and other alternative suppliers for year-end arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Russia's sights for over a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, among them two minors, and cut electricity to thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in one of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.