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Ex-President Trump remarked this past Sunday that he is not actively contemplating sending Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In response to a query by a reporter aboard Air Force One, he replied, “No, not really.” Recent reports had claimed the Pentagon told the administration that American inventories of Tomahawks were ample to enable this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Actions Continue Despite Weapon Shortage

Although Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and key targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, as stated by Moscow officials. Nearby airfields in the region also had to be closed.

Turkish Refineries Shift to Non-Russian Oil Sources

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are boosting procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Russia, as reported by market insiders. The country is a significant purchaser of Russian crude, along with China and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

STAR Plant Diversifies Oil Procurement

One of the largest Turkish refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other alternative producers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of alternative supply, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling approximately 210,000 bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Boosting Alternative Purchases

Another leading Turkey's oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative types of crude, as stated by two insiders. Tupras was also expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its two main domestic plants to continue fuel shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming restrictions. Tupras did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Russian offensive comprising a large number of troops, as stated by Ukraine's top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's army and has been in Russia's crosshairs for more than a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in Pokrovsk

No fewer than two hundred Russian troops had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported last week, while military experts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling maneuver. In his nightly address on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Ukrainian President Announces Strengthened Air Defense System

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for additional air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, stated on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s assistance. “We have strengthened the U.S.-made Patriot component of our national air defense,” he said, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than 6 people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, said Ukraine’s ombudsman. The strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as almost 58 thousand homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Eastern army group confirmed a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.