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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a successful operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a fire and harming two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring India's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Oil Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December delivery, as per sources. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, according to Kyiv’s top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defences to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, among them two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.