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FormerPresident Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not actively planning sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist on his plane, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to carry out long-range strikes against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refining facilities are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, according to sources. These purchases amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up nearly all of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary major domestic plants to continue petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been under Moscow’s crosshairs for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Power

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's human rights commissioner. The attacks cut electricity to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households 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.