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FormerPresident Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively considering sending Ukrainian forces with advanced Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Recent accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense informed the administration that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were ample to enable such a transfer.

Ukraine's Military Efforts Persist Despite Missile Lack

Although Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to conduct far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still succeeded to wage a successful campaign using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Moscow's military and key objectives, including fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Ukrainian airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two vessels, according to Moscow authorities. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's largest oil refining facilities are boosting purchases of alternative crude in reaction to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major purchaser of oil from Russia, along with China and New Delhi, but refiners are following New Delhi's example in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Oil Sources

A major Turkish refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azerbaijani firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple shipments of crude from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, according to sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, varying by cargo size. By comparison, oil from Russia accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's supply in October and September, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, based on market information. SOCAR declined to comment.

Tupras Also Increasing Alternative Buys

Another leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising purchases of non-Russian types of crude, according to two insiders. The company was furthermore likely to soon entirely eliminate imports from Russia at one of its two major domestic refineries to maintain petroleum shipments to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainian Sends Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent special forces to the heavily contested east city of Pokrovsk in an effort to push back an intense Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a major supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been in Moscow’s sights for more than a twelve months as Moscow aims to seize the whole east Donetsk region.

Latest Updates in the City

At least 200 Russian troops had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Kyiv said last week, while military experts concluded that others were advancing on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped maneuver. In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in Pokrovsk and “successes in the elimination of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defences to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence capabilities with Berlin's support. “We have boosted the Patriot element of our national air defense,” he said, referring to the advanced American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukrainian president specifically thanked Germany and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukraine killed at least six individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted power to thousands of residents, authorities reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were two boys of ages eleven and 14, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes disrupted electricity to the entire east Donetsk region as well as nearly 58,000 homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Eastern military unit confirmed some of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy attacks on the region.