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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he was not actively contemplating sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to allow such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refineries are increasing purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its primary main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Russia pushes to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the elimination of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukraine's leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the office of the country's prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.