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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard his plane, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a effective campaign using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the port facility on the coast, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Moscow authorities. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkey's refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased four shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per sources. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by multiple insiders. The company was also expected to soon entirely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an intense Russian assault comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defence Network

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've boosted the Patriot element of our national air defence,” he declared, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without providing additional information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Disrupt Electricity

Russian drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. The attacks disrupted electricity to the entire eastern Donetsk region as well as almost 58,000 households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.