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Ex-President Trump indicated this past Sunday that he was not really considering sending Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not at the moment.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian armed and strategic targets, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack targeted the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and harming two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Alternative Crude Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but processing companies are mirroring India's example in reducing supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for year-end arrival, according to insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, depending on shipment volume. By comparison, oil from Russia made up nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Increasing Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkish refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by multiple sources. The company was furthermore expected to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two major Turkish plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Kyiv has deployed special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top commander. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line 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.

Recent Developments in the City

At least 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defences to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on Sunday that the country had reinforced its air defense network with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced U.S.-made defense systems. Without offering further details, the Ukraine's president specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, among them two children, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of residents, authorities said on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, stated the nation's ombudsman. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.