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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively planning supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still managed to conduct a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian suppliers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in recent months, amounting to approximately 210 thousand barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than six individuals, among them 2 children, and cut power to thousands of households, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok army group confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.