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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had indicated the Pentagon told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up nearly all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was also raising acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to Europe without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s support. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, mentioning the advanced American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including two minors, and cut power to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed some of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.