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FormerPresident Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not really considering sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a reporter on Air Force One, he answered, “No, not currently.” Earlier reports had claimed the Pentagon informed the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were adequate to enable this transfer.

Ukraine's Defense Actions Continue Without Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range strikes against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective campaign using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and strategic targets, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike struck the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, igniting a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be closed.

Turkey Oil Plants Shift to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of non-Russian crude in reaction to the latest western restrictions on Moscow, according to industry insiders. The country is a major buyer of oil from Russia, together with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing supplies.

STAR Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for year-end arrival, as per insiders. These purchases amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels per day (bpd) of alternative supply, varying by shipment volume. In contrast, oil from Russia accounted for virtually the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling about 210,000 bpd, according to market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Boosting Alternative Buys

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was also raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to multiple sources. Tupras was also likely to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its two main Turkish refineries to continue fuel shipments to Europe without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has deployed elite troops to the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an intense Russian assault involving a large number of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s top military leader. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a key supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been under Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Moscow pushes to control the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Updates in the City

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had breached the city's defences, Ukrainian officials said recently, while analysts concluded that additional forces were advancing on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Strengthened Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Berlin's assistance. “We have strengthened the Patriot component of our national air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, referring to the sophisticated U.S.-made defense systems. Not providing further information, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its leader, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Kill Innocents, Cut Electricity

Moscow's drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory took the lives of no fewer than 6 individuals, including two minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, officials said on Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors aged 11 and fourteen, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. The attacks disrupted power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors said. The Vostok army group said some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.