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Ex-President Donald Trump stated this past Sunday that he was not seriously considering providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a journalist on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent reports had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Without Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to conduct long-range attacks against Russia, it has nonetheless managed to wage a effective campaign using its own drones and rockets against Russian armed and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the Tuapse oil port on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Refineries Turn to Alternative Oil Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refining facilities are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international restrictions on Russia, according to industry insiders. Turkey is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are following New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has recently acquired four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional alternative producers for December delivery, as per sources. This amount to roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude made up virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, according to trade data. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's oil processor – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. The company was furthermore likely to in the near future entirely eliminate Russian crude at a key facility of its primary major domestic refineries to continue fuel exports to Europe without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras did not respond to a request 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 push back an intense Moscow's offensive involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian military and has been in Moscow’s crosshairs for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

At least two hundred Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Ukrainian officials reported last week, while military experts assessed that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Zelenskyy Announces Enhanced Air Defence System

The president, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defense,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 people, including two minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of the country's prosecutor general. The children were two boys aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s ombudsman. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. Ukraine’s Vostok military unit confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in one of the Russian attacks on the region.