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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier reports had suggested the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range strikes against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and key targets, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, causing a blaze and harming two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the recent international restrictions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, as per sources. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally raising purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major Turkish refineries to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault involving a large number of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Kyiv's army and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Russia aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys aged 11 and 14, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.