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FormerPresident Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he was not seriously considering providing Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. After being asked by a reporter on his plane, he answered, “No, not really.” Earlier accounts had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense informed the White House that American stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Military Actions Continue Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, such as fuel storage facilities and refineries. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the Tuapse oil port on the Black Sea, causing a blaze and damaging two ships, according to Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Oil Plants Turn to Alternative Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing purchases of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, according to market sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with China and India, but refiners are mirroring India's lead in cutting back supplies.

SOCAR Turkey Refinery Diversifies Crude Sources

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and other non-Russian suppliers for December delivery, as per insiders. This represent roughly 77,000 to 129,000 barrels daily of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. By comparison, Russian crude made up virtually all of the plant's supply in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR declined to provide a statement.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Alternative Buys

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally increasing acquisitions of non-Russian grades of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon completely eliminate Russian crude at one of its two main Turkish plants to maintain fuel shipments to Europe without violating the European Union's incoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a request for a statement.

Ukraine Sends Special Forces to Eastern City

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to repel an fierce Moscow's assault involving thousands of troops, as stated by Kyiv’s senior military leader. Pokrovsk, dubbed “the gateway 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 area.

Latest Developments in the City

At least 200 Russian soldiers had breached the city's defences, Kyiv reported recently, while military experts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president spoke of the fighting in the city and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his partners for more air defense systems to counter Russia’s attacks, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have strengthened the Patriot element of our Ukrainian air defense,” Zelenskyy declared, mentioning the sophisticated U.S.-made air-defence systems. Without offering further details, the Ukrainian leader singled out Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Moscow's Strikes Claim Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and rockets targeting Ukraine took the lives of at least six people, including 2 minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Russian forces struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. The strikes disrupted power to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Eastern military unit said a number of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.