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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated this past Sunday that he is not really planning providing Ukraine with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on his plane, he responded, “No, not really.” Recent accounts had claimed the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow such a delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Weapon Lack

Although Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has nonetheless succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack struck the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a blaze and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Adjacent Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Supplies

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in response to the recent international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market insiders. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's example in reducing imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently purchased four shipments of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, as per sources. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia made up virtually all of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210 thousand bpd, based on trade data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

Another major Turkish refiner – Tupras – was also increasing acquisitions of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to maintain fuel shipments to the EU without violating the EU’s upcoming restrictions. Tupras declined to comment to a request for a statement.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Moscow's assault involving a large number of soldiers, as stated by Ukraine's top military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key logistical line for the Ukrainian army and has been under Moscow’s sights for more than a year as Moscow aims to seize the whole eastern Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its perimeter in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in Pokrovsk and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Strengthened Air Defense Network

The president, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Moscow's strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We've strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing further information, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukraine took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two minors, and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s prosecutor general. The victims were male minors aged 11 and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks cut electricity to the whole eastern Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders announced. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in one of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.