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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not seriously contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Recent accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukraine's Military Actions Persist Without Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian authorities. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Russia, according to market sources. Turkey is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are following New Delhi's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri company SOCAR, has lately acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other alternative suppliers for year-end delivery, as per insiders. These purchases amount to approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of non-Russian crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to multiple insiders. Tupras was furthermore likely to in the near future completely eliminate imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main domestic refineries to continue petroleum exports to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk area.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Moscow's troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in the city and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the advanced U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Strikes Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged eleven and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s attacks cut power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.