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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked this past Sunday that he was not actively considering providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Despite Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to carry out far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on trade data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Buys

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras refinery – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s incoming restrictions. The refiner declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has sent special forces to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv said last week, while analysts assessed that others were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling movement. In his evening address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defense System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, announced on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six people, including 2 children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities said on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, said the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.