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Ex-President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not really planning supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had suggested the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Military Actions Persist Despite Missile Lack

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's armed and strategic objectives, including fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's drone attack targeted the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, as stated by Russian officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Ankara's largest oil refineries are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in response to the recent western sanctions on Moscow, according to market insiders. Turkey is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's example in cutting back imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per insiders. These purchases represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to about 210 thousand bpd, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Buys

The other leading Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two sources. The company was also likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an fierce Moscow's assault comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” lies on a major logistical route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a year as Russia aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts assessed that others were advancing on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his nightly speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot element of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering additional information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Berlin and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on the region.