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Ex-President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not really planning providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two ships, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, together with China and India, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia aims to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have boosted the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated American defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, among them 2 minors, and cut power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.