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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively planning supplying Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard his plane, he answered, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had suggested the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative suppliers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210 thousand bpd, according to market information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Non-Russian Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore likely to soon entirely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic plants to maintain fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to control the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for additional air defences to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defence,” he said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six people, including two children, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks cut power to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on the region.