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Ex-President Trump stated this past Sunday that he is not seriously planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow such a transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Persist Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for December arrival, as per insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to market data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was also likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at one of its two major Turkish refineries to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine 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 involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been under Moscow’s sights for over a year as Moscow aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk area.

Latest Updates in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's troops had breached Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not offering further details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Strikes Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets fired at Ukraine killed at least 6 individuals, including two children, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the office of the country's chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages 11 and 14, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the enemy attacks on the region.